Fungi that eats radiation found inside Chernobyl

[FfFfFfFF 58,413]

The walls at Chernobyl are being covered by a strange fungus that actually eats and grows on radiation. In 1986, the reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were undergoing routine testing when something went terribly wrong.  In what has been described as the worst nuclear accident in history, two explosions blew the roof off one of the plant’s reactors and the entire area and its surroundings was covered in enormous amounts of radiation making it unfit for human life.

Five years after the disaster, the walls of the Chernobyl reactor began to be covered by an unusual fungus.  Scientists were pretty confused by how the fungus could survive in an area that had been so heavily tainted with radiation.  They finally figured out that not only was it able to survive the radioactive environment, but the fungus actually seemed to thrive on it.

According to a report by Fox News, it took another ten years for researchers to test the fungus and discover that it was rich in melanin, the same pigment that is present in human skin and helps protect it from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun.  In the fungi, the presence of the melanin allowed it to absorb that radiation and change it into another type of energy which would allow it to grow.

Melanized fungi varieties have also been found in Fukoshima and other high-radiation environments, the Antarctic mountains, and even on the space station.  If all of those varieties are also radiotropic, that suggests that melanin may, in fact, behave like chlorophyll and other energy-harvesting pigments.  It will take further research to determine whether there any practical applications of the Chernobyl fungus beyond the ability to help clean up radioactive areas.

Source: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2020/02/11/chernobyl-fungus/

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

Nature is amazing. It knows how to heal itself. When humanity dies (assuming we don't permanently damage Earth first), nature will go on.

[Red 99,200]

inb4 Earth becomes the Mushroom Kingdom

[RahrahWitch 6,985]

Mother Nature 100% THAT Bitch

[ARTPOPe 10,169]

7 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

They finally figured out that not only was it able to survive the radioactive environment, but the fungus actually seemed to thrive on it.

The fungus after the disasters:



Quite interesting though.
Perhaps the fungus could really be used in the depletion of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants 
Unless scientists find another way to make use of that.

[Lucas 31,308]

In France we say "nature always finds a way" and that's so true. Even if that's so simple it's actually amazing

[FfFfFfFF 58,413]

5 minutes ago, ARTPOPe said:

The fungus after the disasters:



Quite interesting though.
Perhaps the fungus could really be used in the depletion of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants 
Unless scientists find another way to make use of that.

Maybe it could also be used as a natural and cheap way to indicate the radiation level of a certain house or place.

[ARTPOPe 10,169]

12 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Maybe it could also be used as a natural and cheap way to indicate the radiation level of a certain house or place.

Hmm. Not sure if one would want to wait for a fungus to grow in a certain place in order to know if it's (been) exposed to/contaminated by radiation rather than using a device to measure/detect it properly like a geiger counter. 

[TheSlash 14,539]

We always  say around here "Nature doesn't need us" and this is the prime example  

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

This is so cool. I would so love to visit. Also apaz Stranger Things 4 will be set around the Chernobyl 1986 disaster. 

[Fantina 3,438]

Giving me Last Of Us tease...

[Ziggy 14,141]

1 hour ago, DeanWinchester said:

Nature is amazing. It knows how to heal itself. When humanity dies (assuming we don't permanently damage Earth first), nature will go on.

I read that if a nuclear holocaust killed all of humanity, nature would heal itself in 100 years or something. Like oh ok, flex. Climate change is about saving ourselves and we still can’t get in bird with it. Nature doesn’t give a f*** hahaha

[Economy 52,928]

5 hours ago, Ziggy said:

I read that if a nuclear holocaust killed all of humanity, nature would heal itself in 100 years or something. Like oh ok, flex. Climate change is about saving ourselves and we still can’t get in bird with it. Nature doesn’t give a f*** hahaha

I'd say yes and no

 

Many species would go extinct in any disaster severe enough to make humans extinct. Those wouldn't heal

 

I think it refers more to vegetation and surviving ecosystems stabilizing more than anything maybe the atmosphere as well

[ltlmnstr 2,771]

7 hours ago, GagaInTheZone said:

In France we say "nature always finds a way" and that's so true. Even if that's so simple it's actually amazing

I love Jurassic Park

[CannaeDrive 3,412]

But the real question is: Are these fungi edible?  

(I think i'm a bit hungry now)