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#chernobyl — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #chernobyl, aggregated by home.social.

  1. @ai6yr

    Didn't realize that the cover was so aligned to north/south.

    Was wondering if you could calculate the latitude based on the reflection, but that depends upon the top being a proper circle arc, which is probably isn't.

    The Google maps sat is quite a bit higher res.

    #radioactive #chernobyl

  2. @ai6yr

    Didn't realize that the cover was so aligned to north/south.

    Was wondering if you could calculate the latitude based on the reflection, but that depends upon the top being a proper circle arc, which is probably isn't.

    The Google maps sat is quite a bit higher res.

    #radioactive #chernobyl

  3. @ai6yr

    Didn't realize that the cover was so aligned to north/south.

    Was wondering if you could calculate the latitude based on the reflection, but that depends upon the top being a proper circle arc, which is probably isn't.

    The Google maps sat is quite a bit higher res.

    #radioactive #chernobyl

  4. @ai6yr

    Didn't realize that the cover was so aligned to north/south.

    Was wondering if you could calculate the latitude based on the reflection, but that depends upon the top being a proper circle arc, which is probably isn't.

    The Google maps sat is quite a bit higher res.

    #radioactive #chernobyl

  5. @ai6yr

    Didn't realize that the cover was so aligned to north/south.

    Was wondering if you could calculate the latitude based on the reflection, but that depends upon the top being a proper circle arc, which is probably isn't.

    The Google maps sat is quite a bit higher res.

    #radioactive #chernobyl

  6. Oooh, that's neat Chernobyl now is solar.

    NHK: Solar power plant completed at Chornobyl with Japan funds

    "...A large-scale solar power plant has been completed at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine with financial support from the Japanese government.

    The new facility is meant to ensure a stable power supply at the Chornobyl plant, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986...."

    www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/2

    #Чорнобиль #solarnuclearpowr #solarpower #nukes #chernobyl #chornobyl

  7. Oooh, that's neat Chernobyl now is solar.

    NHK: Solar power plant completed at Chornobyl with Japan funds

    "...A large-scale solar power plant has been completed at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine with financial support from the Japanese government.

    The new facility is meant to ensure a stable power supply at the Chornobyl plant, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986...."

    www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/2

    #Чорнобиль #solarnuclearpowr #solarpower #nukes #chernobyl #chornobyl

  8. Oooh, that's neat Chernobyl now is solar.

    NHK: Solar power plant completed at Chornobyl with Japan funds

    "...A large-scale solar power plant has been completed at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine with financial support from the Japanese government.

    The new facility is meant to ensure a stable power supply at the Chornobyl plant, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986...."

    www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/2

    #Чорнобиль #solarnuclearpowr #solarpower #nukes #chernobyl #chornobyl

  9. Oooh, that's neat Chernobyl now is solar.

    NHK: Solar power plant completed at Chornobyl with Japan funds

    "...A large-scale solar power plant has been completed at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine with financial support from the Japanese government.

    The new facility is meant to ensure a stable power supply at the Chornobyl plant, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986...."

    www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/2

    #Чорнобиль #solarnuclearpowr #solarpower #nukes #chernobyl #chornobyl

  10. Oooh, that's neat Chernobyl now is solar.

    NHK: Solar power plant completed at Chornobyl with Japan funds

    "...A large-scale solar power plant has been completed at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine with financial support from the Japanese government.

    The new facility is meant to ensure a stable power supply at the Chornobyl plant, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986...."

    www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/2

    #Чорнобиль #solarnuclearpowr #solarpower #nukes #chernobyl #chornobyl

  11. The article linked here is about the #blackcolored #fungus #Cladosporium #sphaerospermum, one of several species found to thrive in the #radioactive environment of #Chernobyl. Experiments in space have demonstrated that the fungus is not particularly sensitive to #cosmicradiation; however, the hypothesis of energy-generating #radiosynthesis is not yet sufficiently substantiated.
    ©#StefanFWirth

    Reference
    M. Starr (2026):
    sciencealert.com/this-chernoby

    #Photo
    By Medmyco,2005, creativecommons.org/licenses/b

  12. Gerade die 3. Folge von Chernobyl gesehen. Und ich muss mir ständig vorstellen, wie Markus Söder durch die Kulissen rennt und von Mini-AKW schwafelt, dabei grinst und in eine Bratwurst beisst. Der Mann war 19, als die Katastrophe passierte, hat der wirklich gar nichts kapiert?

    #chernobyl #soeder #MiniAKW #Tschernobyl

  13. #Kuuntelusuositus:

    En seurannut hirmu aktiivisesti uutisointia liittyen Tšernobylin onnettomuuden 40 v päivään, mutta paras vastaantullut kontsa oli BBC:n radiodokkari The last dance floor in #Chernobyl.

    Lähestyy asiaa discomusiikin ja pariskunnan kautta, jonka #häät pidettiin siellä ko. päivänä.

    #Dokkari pitää tiiviisti otteessan.

    bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct99zg

    #TšernobylinYdinvoimalaonnettomuus #Tšernobyl #ydinvoimalaonnettomuus #ydinvoimala #onnettomuus #ydinvoima #dokumentti #Neuvostoliitto

  14. #Chernobyl #Fungus Appears to Have Evolved an Incredible Ability
    Clinging to walls of one of the most #radioactive buildings, scientists found a strange black fungus curiously living its best life.
    Called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and some scientists think its dark pigment – #melanin – may allow it to harness ionizing #radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as #radiosynthesis.
    sciencealert.com/chernobyl-fun

  15. So, no references, which means I'll have to investigate all these claims on my own (I would anyways, 'cuz...)

    #RadiationEating #Fungi: Nature’s Survival Tactic

    By Staff EditorMay 31, 2025

    "The #Chernobyl exclusion zone, one of the most radioactive places on Earth, harbors an extraordinary secret. While most life forms struggle to survive in this contaminated landscape, certain fungi are not just surviving – they’re thriving. These remarkable organisms have mastered a survival strategy that sounds like science fiction: they eat radiation.

    "The discovery began in 1991 when researchers sent robots into the ruins of Chernobyl’s reactor number four. To their amazement, the robots found thick black fungal growths covering the walls closest to the radiation source. These weren’t random survivors clinging to life; they were flourishing in conditions that would be lethal to almost any other organism on the planet.

    "What makes these fungi so remarkable isn’t just their resistance to radiation – it’s their ability to harness it as an energy source, much like plants use sunlight for photosynthesis. This process, called #radiosynthesis, represents one of the most fascinating adaptations in the natural world.

    The Science Behind Radiation-Eating Fungi

    "The key to these fungi’s superpowers lies in #melanin, the same pigment that gives color to human skin and hair. However, fungal melanin operates differently than the melanin we’re familiar with. While our melanin primarily serves as protection against UV radiation, fungal melanin has evolved into something far more sophisticated.

    "When radiation hits melanin-rich fungi, the pigment molecules absorb the energy and undergo a process that generates #electrons. These electrons then power the fungi’s cellular processes, essentially converting deadly radiation into usable energy. Scientists believe this works through a mechanism similar to #photosynthesis, but instead of capturing light energy, these fungi capture the energy from gamma rays and other forms of ionizing radiation.

    "Three species have gained particular attention for their #radiotropic abilities: #CladosporiumSphaerospermum, #CryptococcusNeoformans, and #WangiellaDermatitidis. These fungi don’t just tolerate radiation; they actually grow faster when exposed to it. Laboratory experiments have shown that radiation-exposed samples of these species grow approximately three times faster than those in radiation-free environments.

    Life in Extreme Environments

    "The fungi of Chernobyl aren’t unique in their love for extreme conditions. Throughout Earth’s history, fungi have proven themselves to be nature’s ultimate survivors, colonizing environments where few other life forms dare to venture.

    "High above our heads, fungi have been discovered on the International Space Station, hitching rides on equipment and somehow surviving the vacuum of space. Deep beneath the ocean floor, fungal communities thrive in sediments that haven’t seen sunlight for millions of years. In the frozen wastes of Antarctica, fungi live inside rocks, extracting minerals and moisture from seemingly barren stone.

    "Perhaps most remarkably, fungi have been found living inside nuclear reactors around the world, not just at Chernobyl. The #HanfordSite in Washington State, the #Sellafield facility in England, and other nuclear installations all host their own communities of radiation-eating fungi. These discoveries suggest that radiosynthesis might be more common than initially thought.

    Ancient Origins and Evolutionary Advantages

    "The ability to harness radiation for energy likely evolved hundreds of millions of years ago, long before humans split their first atom. Early Earth was a much more radioactive place than today, bombarded by cosmic rays and containing higher levels of naturally occurring radioactive elements.

    "Scientists theorize that melanin-based radiosynthesis might have been one of the earliest forms of energy capture on our planet, possibly predating photosynthesis. This would make radiation-eating fungi not just evolutionary marvels, but potential glimpses into life’s ancient past.

    "The evolutionary advantages of this ability become clear when we consider the environments these fungi inhabit. In places where organic matter is scarce and other energy sources are limited, the ability to harvest energy from radiation provides a significant competitive edge. These fungi can establish themselves in niches where nothing else can survive, essentially having entire ecosystems to themselves.

    Modern Applications and Future Possibilities

    "The discovery of #radiosynthetic fungi has captured the imagination of researchers across multiple fields, from astrobiology to environmental remediation. NASA has shown particular interest in these organisms, recognizing their potential for long-term space missions where traditional food sources would be impractical.

    "Imagine spacecraft equipped with #FungalBioreactors that could convert the abundant cosmic radiation of deep space into food and oxygen for astronauts. Such systems could make long-duration missions to Mars or beyond far more feasible. Some researchers have even suggested that similar fungi might already exist on other planets, potentially representing our first encounter with extraterrestrial life.

    "Closer to home, these fungi offer promising solutions for environmental cleanup. Traditional methods of dealing with radioactive contamination are expensive and often only move the problem from one location to another. Fungi that can actually consume radiation could potentially detoxify contaminated areas while producing useful byproducts.

    Beyond Chernobyl

    "While Chernobyl remains the most famous example of fungi thriving in radioactive environments, similar discoveries continue to emerge worldwide. The #Fukushima nuclear disaster site in Japan has revealed its own communities of radiation-resistant fungi. Natural #uranium deposits in #Africa host fungal ecosystems that have been consuming radiation for thousands of years.

    "These findings are reshaping our understanding of what constitutes a habitable environment. Life, it seems, is far more adaptable and resourceful than we ever imagined. The existence of radiation-eating fungi forces us to reconsider the limits of biology and the possibilities for life in the universe.

    What This Means for Us

    "The study of radiosynthetic fungi offers more than just scientific curiosity; it provides practical insights into survival and adaptation. These organisms demonstrate principles of resilience and resourcefulness that could inform everything from biotechnology to sustainable energy development.

    "Understanding how fungi convert radiation into usable energy might lead to new forms of biological solar panels or radiation detectors. The robust nature of these organisms could make them ideal candidates for biomining operations or environmental monitoring in hazardous locations.

    "The next time you encounter mushrooms growing in unexpected places, remember the remarkable fungi of Chernobyl. While the specimens in your local forest aren’t likely eating radiation, they’re still performing countless invisible miracles, breaking down organic matter, forming partnerships with plant roots, and maintaining the delicate balance that keeps our ecosystems functioning. In their quiet, persistent way, all fungi are engaged in the extraordinary business of turning the impossible into the everyday."

    fungiexplained.com/radiation-e

    #RadiotrophicFungi #RadioSynthesis

  16. 2020: #Chevron is refusing to pay for the '#Amazon #Chernobyl' – we can fight back with citizen action

    The lawyer challenging the oil company’s #ToxicWaste dump in #Ecuador is under house arrest. We need a boycott

    by Alec Baldwin and Paul Paz y Miño

    "In 2001, #Chevron acquired #Texaco, including all of its assets and civil liabilities. One of those liabilities was the “Amazon Chernobyl”, a 1,700-square-mile #EnvironmentalDisaster in Ecuador that Texaco created through a disregard – and an attitude that local #Indigenous groups have called racism – for the health of the region’s peoples. Texaco, the sole operator of the fields from 1964 to 1992, eventually admitted that it deliberately discharged 72bn litres of #toxic water into the environment, which ended up in the #water supply, and gouged 1,000 unlined waste pits out of the jungle floor. According to several Indigenous witnesses, including Humberto Piaguaje, a leader of the Ecuadorean #Secoya people, the company actually claimed that the oil wastes were medicinal and 'full of vitamins'.

    "Studies have shown thousands of excess cases of cancer deaths and other health problems in the region.

    "Chevron insists that Texaco is only responsible for a portion of the damage, has 'already cleaned up its share' and attributes any remaining pollution to Ecuador’s state-owned national oil company. The government of Ecuador has been clear, in turn, that Chevron is liable for all of the damage."

    #PeopleNotProfits #Pollution #ToxicWaste #EnvironmentalPollution #EnvironmentalRacism #OilPollution

    theguardian.com/commentisfree/