The discovery of a a fungus capable of absorbing radiation and converting it into electrical energy attracts the attention of researchers and experts in the field of science and biotechnology all over the world.
This microorganism could revolutionize a variety of industries, from energy to space exploration, thanks to its ability to turn an environmental threat into a source of clean energy. According to projections, its potential could be valued at up to one trillion dollars.
What is this discovered mushroom that can be worth up to 1 billion dollars?
Mushroom Cladosporium sphaerospermum It was discovered inside the abandoned Chernobyl reactors. It is an extremist fungus that thrives in environments with high levels of radiation due to the melanin it possesses.
This pigment it allows radiation to be absorbed and converted into chemical energya process similar to photosynthesis in plants, which makes it particularly interesting for space research.
Thanks to the pigment melanin, the Chernobyl mushroom thrives in an environment with high radiation. Photo: diffusion
What role does melanin play in the ability of the fungus?
Melanin, a pigment present in both humans and this fungus, is the key to its resistance. The mushroom’s melanin absorbs gamma radiation and converts it into chemical energy, allowing it to grow in extremely hostile conditions.
This feature is what has caught the attention of scientists who believe that this the process may be used in future technologies to protect people in a highly radioactive environment.
What other applications could the Chernobyl mushroom have?
In addition to its ability to reduce radiation, the fungus could be used to generate energy. Because it converts radiation into chemical energy, scientists are exploring its potential as a power source in devices that operate in high-radiation environments such as Martian bases.
Thanks to this, a a biological alternative to solar panelsespecially in conditions where radiation is abundant but solar radiation is limited.
In space, a 21-centimeter layer of this sponge could reduce the effects of radiation on Mars. Photo: diffusion
What other organisms were discovered in Chernobyl?
In addition to Cladosporium sphaerospermum, scientists have documented nearly 200 species of fungi inhabiting the Chernobyl ruins. These fungi show varying levels of resistance to radiation, suggesting that there is a wide variety of organisms capable of thriving in extremely hostile environments.
It is the discovery opens up new possibilities for biotechnologyespecially in the search for radiation protection solutions in space exploration.
What does the discovery of melanin in fungi reveal?
Studies have found fungal spores with a high concentration of melanin in sediments from the early Cretaceous period, a time when Earth temporarily lost its shield against cosmic rays.
This suggests that fungi with melanin Extreme radiation conditions have survived for millions of years. These findings reinforce the idea that radiotrophic fungi may have evolved to thrive in radioactive environments and could be useful in space.
