Also: radiotrophic fungi, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, black fungi, melanin fungi
Dark, melanin-rich fungi grow on and around the Chernobyl reactor. Studies led by Ekaterina Dadachova found radiation can change melanin and enhance growth of some species. A 2018-2019 ISS experiment tested Cladosporium sphaerospermum as a possible radiation shield.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Dadachova and colleagues found ionizing radiation changed melanin's electronic properties and enhanced growth of melanized fungi.
As reported in: Dadachova, Bryan, Huang et al. (2007). Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000457
Dadachova and Casadevall reviewed how fungi survive, adapt to and possibly exploit ionizing radiation with melanin.
As reported in: Dadachova, Casadevall (2008). Ionizing radiation: how fungi cope, adapt, and exploit with the help of melanin. Current Opinion in Microbiology. doi:10.1016/j.mib.2008.09.013
Shunk and colleagues grew Cladosporium sphaerospermum on the International Space Station and measured radiation beneath it.
Built / tested: fungal radiation-shield test
As reported in: Shunk, Gomez, Kern et al. (2020). Growth of the Radiotrophic Fungus <i>Cladosporium sphaerospermum</i> aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. . doi:10.1101/2020.07.16.205534
Averesch, Shunk and Kern reported growth of C. sphaerospermum aboard the ISS and its effect on ionizing radiation.
Built / tested: fungal radiation-shield test
As reported in: Averesch, Shunk, Kern (2022). Cultivation of the Dematiaceous Fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum Aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.877625