this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
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Science

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[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 46 points 1 week ago (3 children)

That fungus is called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and some scientists think its dark pigment – melanin – may allow it to harness ionizing radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as radiosynthesis.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 47 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And with a little CRISPR CAS-9, we can alter ourselves to become super-mutants or ghouls who can feed on ionizing radiation.

Then, finally, I'll be ready for the postapocalyptic nuclear wasteland.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 19 points 1 week ago (3 children)

It's unlikely that it provides anywhere near enough energy for animal life.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 33 points 1 week ago

Not with that attitude.

[–] makyo@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

I mean we’ll still need braiiiinnnss

So you're saying we need to significantly pump up the amount of radiation all over the world?

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

Proposed.

I can't find a single serious manuscript about radio synthesis.

These fungi have robust DNA repair which allows them to grow without competition from yeast or bacteria.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 week ago

i mean, presumably the melanin just turns the radiation into heat? Which yeah is technically harnessing energy but it isn't exactly creating ATP