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by eloff 2137 days ago
Agreed, lead blocks radiation quite well. I don't know why anyone would care about that property in a fungus. What is fascinating is that life evolved a novel energy pathway here, this is like photosynthesis but with gamma radiation. I'd love to know more about it.
1 comments
0xdeadb00f 2137 days ago
> I don't know why anyone would care about that property in a fungus.

My thought would be the possibility of it being cheaper to produce than lead, possible to farm it. That could mean a more lightweight material for insulated suits and stuff along those lines.

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TheOtherHobbes 2137 days ago
It's unlikely to be much use for shielding for reasons the top comment explains.

The real reason to care is because it's an interesting - almost textbook - example of evolution operating in a challenging environment.

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0xdeadb00f 2136 days ago
> It's unlikely to be much use for shielding for reasons the top comment explains.

I did read the comment - I know it can't be used for that. I only said that as a more generic response to "I don't know why anyone would care" about this property being found in a fungus - a statement which seemed to lack any imagination imo.

> The real reason to care is because it's an interesting - almost textbook - example of evolution operating in a challenging environment.

This is true! Good point.

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