slazer2au comments on Chernobyl Fungus Seems to Have Evolved an Incredible Ability

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 48 points 5 months ago (7 children)

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.

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[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 49 points 5 months ago (4 children)

And with a little CRISPR CAS-9, we can alter ourselves to become super-mutants or ghouls who can feed on ionizing radiation.

Then, finally, I'll be ready for the postapocalyptic nuclear wasteland.

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[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 18 points 5 months ago (3 children)

It's unlikely that it provides anywhere near enough energy for animal life.

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[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 35 points 5 months ago

Not with that attitude.

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[–] makyo@lemmy.world 9 points 5 months ago

I mean we’ll still need braiiiinnnss

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[–] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

So you're saying we need to significantly pump up the amount of radiation all over the world?

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[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 6 points 5 months ago

Proposed.

I can't find a single serious manuscript about radio synthesis.

These fungi have robust DNA repair which allows them to grow without competition from yeast or bacteria.

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[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 point 5 months ago

i mean, presumably the melanin just turns the radiation into heat? Which yeah is technically harnessing energy but it isn't exactly creating ATP

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