Fungi in space

How fungi could help colonize other planets

When we picture space colonization, it’s all shiny tech and robots. But it turns out, a humble little player might be key to building life in space: fungi. NASA and other space agencies are now exploring various ways in which fungi can be utilized to support life on other planets, from providing food and medicine to building sustainable materials and even radiation shielding. 

Why is fungi being studied?

Fungi have long been valued for their versatility on Earth. They decompose organic matter and produce a wide array of nutrients and antibiotics. Right now, their ability to survive and thrive in extreme conditions is in the spotlight. In fact, they are one of the first organisms to thrive in environments with high levels of radiation, such as nuclear zones on Earth. This ability comes from their innate protective qualities such as DNA repair mechanisms and the production of melanin, which shields against ultraviolet rays. In space, these properties are critical. One of the greatest threats to astronauts on Mars or the Moon is cosmic radiation, because unlike Earth, these celestial bodies lack a protective magnetic field and thick atmosphere. Research has shown that melanized fungi like Cladosporium sphaerospermum, which thrives in the highly radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, can endure and even utilize radiation through a process known as radiosynthesis. This discovery matters because learning what fungi can do could help us create new materials to protect astronauts from dangerous space radiation.

Fungi are not just effective against radiation; they could also revolutionize construction. Mycelium has the ability to grow into durable, lightweight materials that are both strong and biodegradable. NASA is investigating ‘mycotecture’ as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials, which would be costly and impractical to transport to other planets. Researchers are exploring ways to combine mycelium with the soil found on Mars or the Moon (known as regolith) to create a new type of building material. These structures could actually grow and fix themselves over time, cutting down on repairs and extra supplies.

Fungi can also be central to developing self-sustaining life support systems in space. One of their most valuable traits is their ability to recycle waste into usable resources. This is important for long-term space missions where every resource must be conserved and reused. For example, edible mushrooms like Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms) can grow on organic waste from plants or humans. These fungi efficiently convert inedible biomass into nutritious food, and thus create a closed-loop system that minimizes waste. 

Additionally, some fungi are proved to thrive better in microgravity environments, because in microgravity, the spores released by fungi are not pulled down by gravity, allowing them to float around freely and potentially spread more uniformly. This could be advantageous for colonizing a larger surface area in a controlled environment, making fungi efficient at growing in space habitats. 

While the promise of fungi in space is exciting, there are several challenges. Space environments are inherently hostile to life, and further research is needed to fully understand how microgravity affects fungal physiology and whether all species adapt in beneficial ways.