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Fungi, too, displayed astounding resilience; certain species can not only survive but flourish in radiation-dense areas, as demonstrated by the “black fungi” found in Chernobyl. These fungi convert gamma radiation into chemical energy, much like plants convert sunlight. This ability to thrive in environments suffused with radiation reveals an ancient, biological resilience embedded in various species.
Ancient Radiation Adaptations
These remarkable adaptations link back to an era of Earth's history when natural nuclear fission reactions occurred. Scientists identified relics of these events in Gabon, West Africa, where evidence of 17 natural nuclear reactors showed that life had to have developed resilience mechanisms to thrive alongside radiation that was historically more prevalent.