259

Chernobyl Fungus Appears to Have Evolved an Incredible Ability (www.sciencealert.com)

submitted 7 months ago by A_A@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

53 comments fedilink hide all child comments

"That fungus is called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and some scientists think its dark pigment – melanin – may allow it to harness ionizing radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as radiosynthesis."

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/39553283 https://libretechni.ca/post/483480

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

If it's absorbing the energy, then it's not passing through. That's shielding.

But like light shining through a plant's leaves, it probably doesn't absorb anywhere near all the energy, so probably not useful as actual shielding material.