Biological Radiation Shields

Melanised fungi (e.g., Cladosporium sphaerospermum) that grow toward ionizing sources and show faster growth in radioactive environments may be engineered as living, self‑regenerating radiation‑shielding layers for spacecraft or to bioremediate contaminated sites. Early ISS and lab studies show modest growth advantages under radiation, but scaling, containment, and planetary‑protection implications remain untested. — If viable, living radiation shields change spacecraft design, off‑earth habitation strategy, nuclear‑site cleanup policy, and raise biosecurity and planetary‑protection governance questions.