A strange black fungus has been found growing inside the ruined Chernobyl reactor. Researchers studying it say the fungus survives extreme radiation and even grows faster under it. The findings, confirmed by lab tests, were published on 29 November 2025.

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•  Black fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum seen inside reactor walls
•  Thrives in zones with intense ionising radiation
•  Melanin absorbs radiation; protects fungal cells
•  Radiation boosts growth; biomass increases faster
•  Shows radiotropism; fungi grow toward stronger radiation
•  Suggests radiation may act as partial energy source
•  Challenges limits of life; extremophiles more resilient
•  Possible uses: radiation shielding and bioremediation
•  Potential tool for space missions facing cosmic radiation
•  Mechanism still under study; not fully proven as radiosynthesis