After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists discovered something remarkable amidst the radioactive ruins: thriving colonies of black fungi. These melanin-containing microorganisms weren’t merely surviving in one of the most hostile conditions but they also appeared to be benefiting from the ionizing radiation. Following the catastrophic explosion that released approximately 10^8 Curies of radionuclides into the environment, researchers identified approximately 2,000 strains of fungi (arising from 200 species) within the fourth reactor block of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP). Among the most frequently isolated melanized fungi were several Cladosporium species, including C. sphaerospermum and C. cladosporioides. These black molds … Continue reading Chernobyl’s Black Fungi: Radiation-Absorbing Survivors