Living biomass contains lots of water, and water contains lots of hydrogen. That means a thick layer of wet biological material can sometimes function as a useful shield per unit mass, even before you consider any special chemistry from melanin.
The authors described the shielding effect cautiously, using phrases such as“ may have” and“ could,” because shielding depends on particle type, energy, thickness, and geometry.
High‐energy cosmic rays can also create secondary particles when they hit shielding, so engineers need careful measurements with more accurate dosimetry( radiation dose measurement) before they treat any material as a solution.
Limitations of the experiment
This study was a proof‐of‐principle test with one small payload, so it limits how confidently anyone can generalize.
The fungus grew in a sealed Petri dish with agar and a small headspace, which makes it hard to separate every possible contributing factor.
Most importantly, the experiment doesn’ t demonstrate“ radiosynthesis” in the strong sense of“ the fungus lives off radiation the way plants live off sunlight.”
Follow‐up work can use stronger sensors and repeated trials to test how stable the effect remains across different conditions.
Future of Cladosporium sphaerospermum
A living radiation shield concept ties into in‐situ resource utilization( often shortened to ISRU), the idea that astronauts should manufacture useful materials where they travel instead of hauling everything from home.
A fungus like Cladosporium sphaerospermum can start from a small sample, grow into a thicker layer, and repair itself after damage, at least in theory.
The authors also discuss mixing fungal biomass or melanin with local materials such as lunar or Martian soil to create“ living composites” that could combine structural and protective roles.
Spacecraft designers already stack different protections, including trajectory planning, monitoring solar activity, and dedicated shelter areas for short, intense bursts from the Sun.
A biological layer, if it proves reliable and predictable, could add another option in that larger plan.
The full study was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. Source: https:// www. earth. com / news / chernobyl‐black‐fungus‐cladosporium‐sphaerospermum‐livingradiation‐space‐travel
###