172
TIL Fungi in Chernobyl appear to be feeding off gamma radiation and are growing towards the reactor core.
(thebiologist.rsb.org.uk)
Post direct links to interesting facts that you just learned about today
It wouldn’t be so horrifying if they mushrooms were just growing around it - we’d be like “yeah, mushrooms are resilient.” It’s the “growing towards” part that makes it so unnerving, like it has a plan.
Plants regularly "grow towards" their energy source. I don't know why fungi would be different, as it's apparently a good evolution strategy. Get closer to what gives you energy.