In 2007 a robot sent into Chernobyl found a previously undiscovered life form - radiotrophic fungi

[Vinnie From Indy]

In 2007, a robot sent into the Chernobyl nuclear facility discovered a black mold growing on the walls and other surfaces of the still highly radioactive plant. These organisms appear to convert gamma radiation into food.

"Radiotrophic fungi are fungi which appear to use the pigment melanin to convert gamma radiation<1> into chemical energy for growth.<2> This proposed mechanism may be similar to anabolic pathways for the synthesis of reduced organic carbon (e.g., carbohydrates) in phototrophic organisms, which capture photons from visible light with pigments such as chlorophyll whose energy is then used in photolysis of water to generate usable chemical energy (as ATP) in photophosphorylation of photosynthesis. However, whether melanin-containing fungi employ a similar multi-step pathway as photosynthesis, or some chemosynthesis pathways, is unknown.

These were first discovered in 2007 as black molds growing inside and around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.<1> Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine showed that three melanin-containing fungi, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Wangiella dermatitidis, and Cryptococcus neoformans, increased in biomass and accumulated acetate faster in an environment in which the radiation level was 500 times higher than in the normal environment. Exposure of C. neoformans cells to these radiation levels rapidly (within 20–40 minutes of exposure) altered the chemical properties of its melanin and increased melanin-mediated rates of electron transfer (measured as reduction of ferricyanide by NADH) 3 to 4-fold compared with unexposed cells.<2> Similar effects on melanin electron-transport capability were observed by the authors after exposure to non-ionizing radiation, suggesting that melanotic fungi might also be able to use light or heat radiation for growth."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus

[Drale]

1. To quote Dr. Ian Malcolm

"Life will find a way"

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. +1000

[leveymg]

2. It's The Blob.

It wants to grow and eat all the nuclear power stations in Japan, and then the world. Diabolical laughter. Now, watch some idiot drop The Bomb on it.

[Teaser]

3. that is awesomesauce

.

[hlthe2b]

4. When I realized that Pseudomonas bacteria could thrive in gasoline,

I ceased to be amazed at the ability of lving organisms to adapt--to evolve. That said, I continue to be amazed at the inability of RW fundies to devolve and deny--to their own detriment.

[guitar man]

5. Well

I for one welcome our new fungal overlords :silly:

[cliffordu]

6. Took the words right out of my mouth.....

[xchrom]

7. damn it! -- alright +2. nt

[sakabatou]

8. You think it'll turn out to be The Blob?

[guitar man]

15. no

we already have the blob, it comes on the AM radio every day about noon here.... it spews and spews but nothing's been able to stop it so far :silly:

[geardaddy]

9. I'll have to learn how to speak

radiotrophic funginese

[yodermon]

13. hey, that's *Radiotrophic* Fungal Overlords, mister.

and don't forget to salute!

[DeSwiss]

10. The water bear (Tardigrade).....

...can survive not only http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade">lethal doses of radiation, but they can survive in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Interplanetary_Flight_Experiment">space for up to ten years. And you can find those under any old clump of lichen or moss in your backyard. The only limitation in life seems to be man's imagination. While his arrogance knows no bounds.

- Mankind thinks he knows more than he does -- while at the same time denying that which he can't understand saying that it can't exist only because he can't understand how it might.......

K&R

[Arugula Latte]

12. Duuuude, try these shrooms...They're totally, like, radioactive.

[Kennah]

14. Could these be the mushrooms Charlie Sheen smoked?

[TheWraith]

16. Another wonder to add to the list of interesting forms of life.

Once again we get reminded of the fact that ours is far from the only type of life, as we once assumed.