Overview
- Scientists first documented melanized fungi inside Chernobyl’s reactor structures in 1997, with surveys led by Nelli Zhdanova noting growth toward radioactive sources.
- Laboratory work by Ekaterina Dadachova and colleagues reported faster growth in melanized strains under ionizing radiation and proposed the unproven concept of “radiosynthesis.”
- Space-based tests with Cladosporium sphaerospermum on the International Space Station showed modest growth increases and a measurable drop in radiation beneath fungal mats.
- Responses differ by species and strain, with only a subset displaying radiation-seeking behavior, underscoring variability in the phenomenon.
- Potential uses under study include bioremediation at contaminated sites and lightweight shielding for space habitats, though mechanisms and scalability remain uncertain.