The Chernobyl exclusion zone may be off-limits to humans, but ever since the Unit Four reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded nearly 40 years ago, other forms of life have not only moved in but survived, adapted, and appeared to thrive.

“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

  • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.todayEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    In the future, instead of shooting up shiny silver rockets, we’ll be firing up rockets covered in gross mold.

    • qarbone@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Obviously you hide the gross fungi under a nice silvery façade. You don’t compromise aesthetics in space or all the other stellar societies will laugh at us, and uninvite us from the quasar parties.