https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.16.205534v6 Skip to main content bioRxiv * Home * About * Submit * ALERTS / RSS Search for this keyword [ ] [Search] Advanced Search New Results A Self-Replicating Radiation-Shield for Human Deep-Space Exploration: Radiotrophic Fungi can Attenuate Ionizing Radiation aboard the International Space Station Graham K. Shunk, Xavier R. Gomez, View ORCID ProfileChristoph Kern, View ORCID ProfileNils J. H. Averesch doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.16.205534 Graham K. Shunk 1Higher Orbits "Go For Launch!" Program, Leesburg, VA, United States 2Physics Department, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics , Durham, NC, United States * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Xavier R. Gomez 1Higher Orbits "Go For Launch!" Program, Leesburg, VA, United States 3Department of Systems Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC, United States * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Christoph Kern 4Department of Statistics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany 5School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site * ORCID record for Christoph Kern Nils J. H. Averesch 6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States 7Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, CA, United States * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site * ORCID record for Nils J. H. Averesch * For correspondence: nils.averesch@uq.net.au * Abstract * Full Text * Info/History * Metrics * Supplementary material * Preview PDF Loading Abstract The greatest hazard for humans on deep-space exploration missions is radiation. To protect astronauts venturing out beyond Earth's protective magnetosphere, advanced passive radiation protection is highly sought after. In search of innovative radiation-shields, biotechnology appeals with suitability for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), self-regeneration, and adaptability. Certain fungi thrive in high-radiation environments on Earth, such as the contamination radius of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Analogous to photosynthesis, these organisms appear to perform radiosynthesis, utilizing ionizing radiation to generate chemical energy. It has been postulated that the absorption of radiation is attributable to the pigment melanin. It is further hypothesized that this phenomenon translates to radiation-shielding properties. Here, growth of Cladosporium sphaerospermum and its capability to attenuate ionizing radiation, was studied aboard the International Space Station (ISS) over a period of 30 days, as an analog to habitation on the surface of Mars. At full maturity, radiation beneath a [?] 1.7 mm thick lawn of the dematiaceous radiotrophic fungus was 2.17+-0.25% lower as compared to the negative control. In addition, a growth advantage in Space of ~ 21% was observed, substantiating the thesis that the fungus' radiotropism is extendable to Space radiation. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes * This revision of the manuscript details more thorough statistical and theoretical analyses, with revised numbers to support a similar conclusion, along with a corrected author list. Abbreviations B buildup-factor CDW cell dry-weight CPM counts per minute CWW cell wet-weight DHN 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene GCR galactic cosmic radiation HZE high atomic number and energy ISRU in-situ resource utilization ISS international space station LAC linear attenuation coefficient LEO low earth-orbit MAC mass attenuation coefficient PDA potato dextrose agar RT room temperature. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. View the discussion thread. Back to top PreviousNext Posted November 04, 2021. Download PDF Supplementary Material Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. 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Averesch bioRxiv 2020.07.16.205534; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/ 2020.07.16.205534 Share This Article: [https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.16] Copy Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo Citation Tools A Self-Replicating Radiation-Shield for Human Deep-Space Exploration: Radiotrophic Fungi can Attenuate Ionizing Radiation aboard the International Space Station Graham K. Shunk, Xavier R. Gomez, Christoph Kern, Nils J. H. 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