Radiation-eating mold could help clean up nuclear sites protect astronauts

New York Post • December 1, 2025 • science

Key Points:

Scientists have discovered that black mold thriving in Chernobyl’s radiation zones not only adapts to ionizing radiation but may also feed off it, a process termed "radiosynthesis."
The fungi contain melanin, which is believed to protect them from radiation and potentially convert it into usable energy, similar to how plants use sunlight in photosynthesis.
Research suggests that this capability could have significant applications, including radiation cleanup at nuclear disaster sites and protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation during space exploration.
Experiments on the International Space Station showed that a strain of Chernobyl mold, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, grew faster in space and its melanin provided a protective radiation shield, indicating potential for space radiation protection