Within Chernobyl’s exclusion zone grows a jet-black fungus that thrives in radiation. The melanin that turns the fungi black seems to be key to their success in the irradiated landscape; the further you go into the exclusion zone, the blacker the fungi are. In the lab, melanised fungi grew better when exposed to radiation, while fungi without melanin didn’t benefit from it. It’s possible that these black fungi could help with radiation clean-up efforts both on Earth and in space; they also reduced radiation when they were sent to space. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
