The mysterious black fungus from Chernobyl that may eat radiation
Energy Harvesting and Feasibility
- Several commenters ask whether the fungus could “power” anything, e.g. as a radiation-fed bio-solar cell or for better solar technologies.
- Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest the available ionizing radiation energy at Chernobyl is many orders of magnitude too small to meaningfully drive fungal growth on its own.
- Others note the comparison depends on conversion efficiency and might be incomplete, but the consensus is that this is not a practical power source.
Mechanism: What the Fungus Is Actually Doing
- Two main hypotheses discussed:
- Direct radiosynthesis: melanin converts ionizing radiation into usable biochemical energy (analogous to photosynthesis).
- Indirect effects: radiation acts as a catalyst or stressor, changing chemistry or reducing competition, making existing nutrient use more efficient.
- Commenters emphasize that it is not proven the fungus derives primary energy from radiation; only that it grows faster in its presence.
Misconceptions About “Eating” Radiation and Cleanup
- Multiple comments stress: the fungus does not neutralize radioactive isotopes or change their half-lives. It can only absorb the emitted radiation, not “make waste go away.”
- Best-case, it could act as a living radiation shield or help bind contaminants, but chemical barriers (e.g. resins, concrete) are likely more effective for cleanup.
Space, Shielding, and Biomass Constraints
- There is interest in using melanin-rich fungi as lightweight radiation shielding for spacecraft or habitats, possibly combined with regolith and cyanobacteria.
- Skeptics argue media and even space agencies are being misinterpreted: the fungus still needs conventional biomass sources; radiation alone cannot build its mass.
Melanin, Medicine, and Biology
- Melanin’s role is debated: is it shielding, an energy transducer, or part of a general damage-repair response?
- One commenter relays an email exchange with a melanin researcher suggesting a possible link between defective melanin structure and vitiligo, and notes this remains underexplored.
Culture, Sci‑Fi, and Meta
- The fungus inspires sci‑fi scenarios (gray goo, The Expanse, Project Hail Mary, Miyazaki’s Nausicaä).
- A subthread criticizes relying on LLM-generated numbers without verification, highlighting risks of confidently shared but incorrect “AI facts.”