Melanized Microorganisms Hunger for Radiation

In research just published, scientists have found that microorganisms with the melanin pigment, have a natural hunger for radiation, and may be using the pigment to consume radiation in much the same way that chlorophyll converts solar radiation in plants. Organisms studied, the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans, Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Wangiella dermatitidis, all consumed high levels of ionizing radiation, resulting in exponential growth – sometimes even when they were not in a nutrient rich environment.

The ability of melanin to confer protection against radiation is well known. Melanin is responsible for our skin pigmentation, and has been found in organisms inhabiting extreme environments. Melanized microorganisms have been found in high altitudes, Arctic and Antarctic regions, and recently, colonizing the walls and surrounding soil of the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor. There is also fossil evidence that suggests that melanin has been around for some time, conferring protection to plants and animals.

This finding could have numerous applications. The obvious is cleaning up after radiation accidents or as a way of neutralizing spent nuclear fuel. Space travel however, could also benefit from radiation eating fungi. There's a lot of radiation out there, and the ability to convert it from something dangerous to useful could be boon for astronauts on long-haul missions. It also makes me think that all those bad B-movies, in which radiation creates monstrous goo that oozes everywhere devouring people, may not be that far off the mark.