The research was prompted by the discovery of fungi growing in the damaged core of the Chernobyl power-plant. Although some species have the capacity to grow in extreme environments, the fungi observed seemed to thrive in such scenarios (Mironenko, Alekhina, Zhdanova and Bulat, 2000). In fact, “during the last 15 years, about 2000 strains of 200 species of 98 genera of fungi have been isolated from around the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station” (Zhdanova et al., 2004). This suggests fungi are radiotrophic, or prefer radioactivity. To study this theory, the Zhdanova group preformed a study in which fungal samples were grown near radioactively decaying 32P and 109Cd radionuclides. The results showed that 66.7% of the sample grew towards the radioactive metal, and the remaining growth showed no response. All of the fungi grown near the radionuclides, however, grew better than the radioactive-free control group (Zhdanova et al., 1991). Another characteristic observed in the fungi that responded to radioactivity was a high concentration of the pigment melanin. For this reason, the Zhdanova group concluded their study by suggesting that melanin in fungi is analogous to the pigment chlorophyll in plants. Both are able to obtain energy from the electromagnetic spectrum (Dadachova et al., 2007).

This research was continued with a suggested mechanism for melanin’s ability to obtain energy from the radioactive spectra. The theory proposed that melanin, when irradiated, experiences a change in its electron spin resonance and undergoes changes in electron structure. The altered electrical structure causes irradiated melanin to reduce NADH four times more effectively than non-irradiated melanin (Dadachova et al., 2007).

The ability for melanin rich fungi to survive in extreme radioactive conditions can be seen in the high amounts of melanized fungal fossils in the sediment layers of the early Cretaceous period (Dadachova et al., 2007). This is significant because these layers correspond to a “magnetic zero” or the changing of the magnetic field of the Earth. When this occurred, many plants and animals died due to the lack of shielding against solar radiation attributed to Earth’s magnetic field (Hulot and Gallet, 2003). The abundance of melanized fungi is significant as it is indicative of the conditions in which fungi prefer, and suggests their radiotrophic tendencies.

Finally, the implications of fungi providing energy for themselves from radioactive waves can be observed in the regular maintenance required of the Russian orbital station, Mir. The station must continually be cleaned due to the accumulation of fungal growth (Zhdanova et al., 1991). Although pure speculation, it is feasible that, like plants, we can harvest these fungi for energy in situations such as space travel, for example, a mission to Mars, or planet colonization. Whatever the application of melanized fungi, it is clear that these organisms contain many secrets and uses that research is only beginning to unveil. The processes of melenized fungi may be as common-knowledge as photosynthesis is at present.

Dadachova E., Bryan R., Huang X., Moadel T., Schweitzer A., Aisen P., Nosanchuk J., Casadevall A., 2007. Ionizing radiation changes the electronic properties of melanin and enhances the growth of melanized fungi, PLoS One, [online]. Available at: http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000457 [Accessed October 6, 2011].

Dadachova E., Casadevall A., 2008. Ionizing Radiation: how fungi cope, adapt, and exploit with the help of melanin, Pubmed, [online]. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677413/ [Accessed October 6, 2011].

Hulot G., Gallet Y., 2003. Relationship between Secondary Metabolism and Fungal Development, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, [online] Volume 210 (Issues 1-2),Pages 191-201. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X03001304 [Accessed October 6, 2011].

Mironenko, N., Alekhina, I., Zhdanova N., Bulat S., 2000. Intraspecific variation in gamma-radiation resistance and genomic structure in the filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata: a case study of strains inhabiting Chernobyl reactor no. 4, Pubmed, [online]. PMID:
10648134, Abstract only. Available through: Medline [Accessed October 6, 2011].

Zhdanova N., Lashko T., Vasiliveskaya A., Bosisyuk L., Sinyavskaya O., Gavrilyuk V., Muzalev P., 1991. Interaction of soil micromycetes with ‘hot’ particles in the model system, Microbiologichny Zhurnal. [Accessed October 6, 2011]

Zhdanova N., Tugay T., Dighton J., Zheltonozhsky V., Mcdermott P., 2004. Ionizing radiation attracts soil fungi, Mycological Research, Science Direct, [online] Volume 108 (Issue 9), Abstract only. Available through: Elsevier [Accessed October 6, 2011].

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