This black fungus thrives in Chernobyl's radioactive environment
Turns out, Chernobyl isn't just home to abandoned buildings—scientists have found a black fungus called Cladosporium sphaerospermum growing right on the reactor walls.
What's wild is that this fungus doesn't just survive radiation; it might actually use it for energy, thanks to its melanin pigment.
It was studied in detail in the late '90s and was found to be the dominant species in samples from the area.
Why scientists (and NASA) are excited
Researchers noticed this fungus grows even better when exposed to more radiation, which led them to wonder if it could help humans too.
NASA even sent samples to the International Space Station in 2022 to see if it could block cosmic radiation—imagine using a humble fungus as a natural shield for astronauts!
Studying how it thrives could also teach us about surviving extreme conditions on other planets and inspire new tech for space travel.