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

submitted 1 week ago by HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world to c/physics@mander.xyz

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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

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[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 week 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 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week 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.