It is very radioresistant. It does not feed on radiation. Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that is able to survive abnormally high levels of ionizing radiation (IR). The radiolysis of water by IR generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 and OH-. C. neoformans withstands the damage caused by IR and ROS through antioxidant production and enzyme-catalyzed breakdown of ROS.
When I was studying chemistry in the late 1970’s the technology was being used for unknown identifications and was called “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging”. They dropped the “Nuclear” to preclude scaring idiots when it became a medical imaging device.
It is very radioresistant. It does not feed on radiation. Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that is able to survive abnormally high levels of ionizing radiation (IR). The radiolysis of water by IR generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 and OH-. C. neoformans withstands the damage caused by IR and ROS through antioxidant production and enzyme-catalyzed breakdown of ROS.