Floating 350 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, astronauts aboard the Soviet space station Mir encountered a startling phenomenon. Their once-clear portholes were obscured by a green and black web-like substance. This mysterious growth soon spread throughout the shuttle, covering air conditioners and corroding control panels, posing a threat to both the station’s integrity and the astronauts’ safety. The culprits were identified as several species of Earth-derived fungi that had remarkably survived the journey to space. Once there, they adapted to the microgravity and radiation-rich environment.
Fortunately, the crew managed to control these fungal threats, allowing Mir to remain in orbit for another 13 years. During this time, scientists discovered that fungi might not hinder space travel but could potentially aid it. These resilient, often overlooked organisms could be key to our future on other planets.
Outside Earth’s protective magnetic field, most living organisms require substantial protection to survive the DNA-damaging cosmic radiation in space. However, some fungi are exceptions. Many species produce a unique form of melanin, a pigment that absorbs high levels of radiation and, in some cases, uses this energy to fuel growth. Even if harmful radiation penetrates this natural armor, many fungi possess robust repair systems that can excise and restore damaged DNA sequences.
Fungi are also equipped to withstand other harsh cosmic elements. Their hardy spores have thick cell walls, enabling them to survive extreme temperatures. This resilience opens up intriguing possibilities for utilizing fungi in space exploration.
One of the significant challenges of settling on other planets is sourcing materials to construct suitable habitats. There are two primary solutions: sending supplies from Earth, which is costly at approximately $10,000 per kilogram, or using materials already present on other planets. The latter involves using regolith, the dust and fragmented rock covering planetary surfaces. However, this requires heavy, energy-intensive machinery to collect, heat, and compact the regolith into usable material.
This is where fungi come into play. Most fungi have hair-like root structures called mycelia, which can bind nearby materials, such as wood chips, sawdust, or regolith, as they grow. The result is a dense, interconnected web that forms a surprisingly durable building material with thermal and radiation protection properties.
Scientists working with NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program have devised plans to grow fungal homes on other planets. Lightweight, flexible bags seeded with dehydrated spores would be launched to their new destination. Upon arrival, rovers would source water for rehydration and regolith for binding. Alternatively, the bags could be pre-seeded with a lightweight binding material, like dehydrated wood chips.
An essential component of these packages is cyanobacteria, which provide nutrients to the fungi and convert sunlight into oxygen. The mycelia grow to fit the shape of their bags, forming the walls, roof, and even furniture of these fungal abodes. Once completed, maintaining these structures would likely be straightforward, as any cracks could be reseeded and regrown. Scientists could engineer cyanobacteria to alert residents if repairs are needed by glowing when oxygen or pressure levels in the habitat dip.
While there is still much work to be done before these lightweight habitat packs are ready for launch, researchers have begun refining the details by growing sustainable, carbon-negative fungal habitats on Earth. Housing is just one of many potential applications for fungi in space. Communities will need to cultivate their own food, yet suitable soil is scarce off Earth. Fungi can release chemical-degrading enzymes capable of breaking down carbon-rich asteroids into soil. They can also be engineered to mine and extract metals like aluminum and iron, enabling space colonies to source these valuable ores locally.
Fungi have evolved from being a space hazard to becoming a potential cornerstone of space exploration. Their unique properties and resilience make them invaluable allies in our quest to explore and inhabit other planets.
Conduct a simple experiment to grow fungi on different substrates. Collect samples of bread, fruit, and wood chips, and place them in separate sealed containers with a bit of moisture. Observe and document the growth of fungi over a week. Discuss how fungi adapt to different environments and relate this to their potential use in space exploration.
Using materials like cardboard, clay, and string, create a model of a fungal habitat that could be used on another planet. Think about how the mycelia would grow and bind materials together. Present your model to the class and explain how it would provide protection and sustainability for astronauts.
Research and create a poster about how melanin in fungi helps protect them from radiation. Include diagrams and examples of fungi that produce melanin. Discuss how this property could be beneficial for protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation.
Participate in a role-playing game where you are part of a team of scientists and engineers tasked with establishing a colony on Mars. Use fungi to solve problems related to building materials, food production, and radiation protection. Write a short report on how your team used fungi to overcome these challenges.
Create a comic strip that illustrates the symbiotic relationship between fungi and cyanobacteria in a space habitat. Show how cyanobacteria provide nutrients and oxygen, while fungi build and maintain the habitat. Highlight the importance of this partnership for the survival of space colonies.
fungi – Fungi are a group of living organisms that include mushrooms, molds, and yeasts, which absorb nutrients from their surroundings. – Fungi play an important role in breaking down dead plants and animals in the ecosystem.
space – Space is the vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and galaxies are found. – Astronauts travel to space to conduct experiments and learn more about the universe.
radiation – Radiation is energy that travels through space and can come in different forms, such as light or heat, and can affect living organisms. – Some plants use sunlight, a form of radiation, to make their food through photosynthesis.
mycelia – Mycelia are the root-like structures of fungi that grow underground and help absorb nutrients from the soil. – The mycelia of mushrooms can spread over large areas, helping to decompose organic matter.
habitat – A habitat is the natural environment where an organism lives, providing food, shelter, and other necessities for survival. – The rainforest is a rich habitat that supports a diverse range of plants and animals.
spores – Spores are tiny reproductive cells produced by fungi and some plants that can grow into new organisms. – When the wind blows, it can carry spores far away, allowing fungi to spread to new areas.
nutrients – Nutrients are substances that provide essential nourishment for growth and development in living organisms. – Plants absorb nutrients from the soil to help them grow strong and healthy.
exploration – Exploration is the act of searching for new information or discovering new places, often used in the context of space or the natural world. – Scientists conduct exploration missions to learn more about distant planets and their environments.
melanin – Melanin is a pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes of many organisms, which helps protect them from the sun’s harmful rays. – People with more melanin in their skin tend to have darker skin tones, which can provide better protection against UV radiation.
ecosystems – Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment, forming a balanced system. – Coral reefs are vibrant ecosystems that support a wide variety of marine life.
