From Chernobyl to the Moon: Radiotrophic Fungi and Extremophile Microorganisms as Biological Radiation Shields and Life Support Components for Permanent Lunar Bases

Technical abstract proposing the integration of radiotrophic fungi and extremophile microorganism consortia as a biological radiation attenuation layer and multi-function life support component for the Refuge Sphere Lunar Village (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19920193). Cladosporium sphaerospermum — a melanized fungus isolated from the Chernobyl exclusion zone, tested aboard the ISS for 30 days — performs radiosynthesis: converting ionizing radiation into chemical energy via melanin, analogously to photosynthesis. Its positive radiotropism causes it to autonomously concentrate in the most radiation-exposed zones without any control system. Integrated as interior biofilm on Refuge Sphere module walls, it creates a self-replicating, self-repairing, zero-launch-mass biological radiation shield complementing the physical Meissner + MLVIS + passive stack protection. The complete extremophile consortium addresses four parallel functions: Deinococcus radiodurans (ROS scavenging, air purification), Chroococcidiopsis thermalis (O₂ production, ISS-tested), Arthrospira platensis/Spirulina (protein nutrition + O₂), Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (ISRU mineral processing). All organisms self-replicate from gram-scale lyophilized starter cultures using in-situ resources — zero resupply after initial inoculation. Includes a comparative table of conventional vs Refuge Sphere approaches across 10 base functions (energy, shielding, air, water, food, construction, thermal regulation) illustrating a consistent green engineering philosophy: converting local resources and natural phenomena — including radiation itself — into useful outputs, rather than launching consumables from Earth and generating waste. A full technical design document is in preparation.