Dhaka, Dec. 1 -- In the radioactive ruins of Chernobyl, black fungi have revealed a remarkable ability to survive and even thrive amid extreme radiation, offering insights that could help protect life in space.

Ukrainian scientist Nelli Zhdanova first discovered the fungi in May 1997 inside the destroyed number four reactor. Instead of the expected silence, she found black mould clinging to walls, ceilings, and metal surfaces, showing resilience in one of the deadliest environments on Earth. Scientists call this phenomenon radiotropism, where fungi grow toward ionizing radiation, which is normally lethal to living cells.

Zhdanova found 36 other fungal species in the contaminated reactor area, but the radiation-loving fungi were unique. ...