Mould found at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster appears to be feeding off the radiation. Could we use it to shield space travellers from cosmic rays?
Averesch says it's still possible the apparent radioprotective benefits of fungi are due to components of biological life other than melanin. Water, for example, a molecule with a high number of protons in its structure (eight in oxygen and one in each hydrogen), is one of the best ways to protect against the protons that zoom through space, an astrobiological equivalent of fighting fire with fire.
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Even so, the findings have opened intriguing prospects for solving a problem of space-based living. Both China and the US plan to have a base on the Moon in the coming decades, while Texas-based SpaceX aims to have its first mission to Mars blast off by the end of 2026, and land humans there three to five years later. Any people living on these bases will need to be protected from cosmic radiation. But using water or polyethylene plastic as a radioprotective cocoon for these bases might be far too heavy for liftoff.
Metal and glass present a similar problem. Lynn J Rothschild, an astrobiologist at Nasa's Ames Research Centre, has likened transporting these materials into space to build space bases to a turtle carrying its shell everywhere it goes. "[It's] a reliable plan, but with huge energy costs," she said in a 2020 Nasa release.
Her research has led to fungal based furniture and walls that could be grown on the Moon or Mars. Not only would such "myco-architecture" reduce the cost of lift-off, but – if the findings from Dadachova and Averesch prove correct – it could also be used to form a radiation shield, a self-regenerating barrier between the space-faring humans and the storm of galactic cosmic radiation outside.
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By HelloUsername 2025-11-2813:36 Related:
"Fungus in Chernobyl nuclear disaster zone has mutated to 'feed' on radiation (2024)" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45901149 12-nov-2025
"Fungus found in Chernobyl might process radiation and act as a shield (2024)" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43534021 31-mar-2025
"A Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl by Drinking Radiation" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43148355 23-feb-2025
"Radiotrophic fungus" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41085406 03-aug-2024
"Chernobyl fungus could shield astronauts from cosmic radiation" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35181146 16-mar-2023
"Fungus at Chernobyl absorbs nuclear radiation via radiosynthesis" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24166994 15-aug-2020
"Radiotrophic fungus" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20342750 03-jul-2019
"Chernobyl Fungus Feeds On Radiation (2007)" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6763520 19-nov-2013
"Black Fungus Found in Chernobyl Eats Harmful Radiation" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=127626 02-mar-2008
By _young_grug_ 2025-11-2813:532 reply This would be a cool origin story for astrophage (from Project Hail Mary, a fun & light sci fi read by the Martian guy)
Also this is how the protomolecile from The Expanse feeds. It can absorb pretty much any radiation across the whole spectrum.
By gradascent 2025-11-2816:131 reply I was thinking the same thing. That one accelerates its growth in the presence of radiation. But it also seeks out human flesh and brains to build its biomass intelligence blob, unfortunately.
By usefulcat 2025-11-2817:17 In the books, it is suggested (if not stated outright) that the protomolecule was probably intended to work with much simpler forms of life, but is also able to make use of higher forms like humans.
The reason so many were infected on Eros was because humans deliberately infected everyone on the station. Likewise with the human/protomolecule hybrids.
There is a movie coming with Ryan Gosling, I sure hope they keep the spirit of the book and don't turn that into some bizarre hollywoodish cash grab
I think the Martian was adapted well from book to movie, so I have hope for this one. That said, compressing the entire story into a theatre runtime is tricky: I think it would be a win if only half of the character and relationship growth of the two ship bound protagonists comes through in the adaptation (because it was sooo good in the book!)
The Martian was well adapted as the story has an attention to scientific details, can’t say that for Project Hail Mary
By fredoliveira 2025-11-2816:22 True - but I think that might make the adaptation to a movie easier, not harder.
Like GP said, I think the trick to this book is in the relationship between the 2 main characters, so hopefully they nail that. Judging by the trailer they made it all quite humorous.
By MobileVet 2025-11-2816:38 I know they have to peak interest, but man, so many spoilers in the 2 trailers. They look amazing, clearing a huge budget and I hope a solid adaptation… sad for people that don’t know the story to miss out on the reveals.
By testing22321 2025-11-2816:23 Andy Weir is a producer on this one. The trailer looks good (with spoilers)
By rpozarickij 2025-11-298:41 The audiobook narrated by Ray Porter is also really good.
In fact, it's so good that it sets a really good example of what an enjoyable experience listening to an audiobook can be.
By soulchild77 2025-11-298:38 That Oasis tune in the 2nd trailer already ruined everything for me.
By einpoklum 2025-11-2814:02 I was immediately reminded of Hayao Miyazaki's post-apocalyptic manga and anime film, "Nausicaa of the valley of the winds", where the fungus-and-spore-filled jungle, toxic and lethal to humans, actually serves as a sequestering and purification agent for the ecosystems affected by some apocalyptic, possibly nuclear, catastrophe.
http://www.nausicaa.net/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_...
https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Nausicaä_of_the_Valley_of_the...
