Sarah McDaniel Instagram – Part 2/3 and closing. ( please excuse my pronunciation and audio level change. I recorded various parts at different days) 🫂
For radioactive hot particles:
– Certain fungi species, particularly those with melanin (like Cladosporium sphaerospermum), can absorb and accumulate radionuclides
– The fungi convert radiation into chemical energy through radiosynthesis
– They use enzymes to bind to heavy metals and radioactive elements, effectively immobilizing them
– Examples include fungi found thriving at Chernobyl that actually grow toward radiation sources
For plastics:
– Fungi secrete powerful enzymes (primarily laccases, peroxidases, and manganese peroxidases)
– These enzymes break the complex polymer chains in plastics into simpler compounds
– Species like Pestalotiopsis microspora can degrade polyurethane, while Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms) can break down various plastics
– The process transforms the plastic into compounds the fungi can use as a carbon source
The effectiveness varies by fungal species and contamination type, with research still ongoing to optimize these processes for environmental cleanup.
Truly magical… | Posted on 16/Mar/2025 00:03:30
