Physics

1351 readers

1 users here now

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Sal@mander.xyz

Fungi using gamma radiation for energy in Chernobyl (www.rsb.org.uk)

submitted 2 weeks ago by HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world to c/physics@mander.xyz

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/15007841

Eating gamma radiation for breakfast

Some fungal species appear to be able to use strong radiation as an energy source for growth. Tom Ireland explores the exciting potential of these understudied organisms

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

[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That is really interesting.

So we have fungi growing on the outside of the ISS, and we have fungi growing were there is very little available moisture.

So hard vacuum and almost no moisture doesn't kill off fungi. It can evolve to take advantage of extremely high energy radiation.

I wonder if fungi could grow on asteroids?

[–] sunyata@mander.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

According to Deshevaya et al., 2024 numbers reduced and survival is due to lyophilization.

So they were not growing, but preserved.

Still cool though.