By Elizabeth Lopatto

The study was inspired by fungi growing on the radioactive reactor at Chernobyl, the Ukrainian power station that was the site of the worst nuclear accident 21 years ago.

``We've discovered some other minor sources of energy like bugs that eat minerals, and bacteria that live on hydrothermal vents under the ocean, so far down the sun doesn't shine,'' he said. ``And now we've discovered another molecule that allows you to capture energy.''

``To find that melanized fungi actually exploit the radiation to promote growth is unexpected,'' he said.