The mystery of the radioactive worms of Chernobyl.
A group of scientists revealed that microscopic worms living in the highly radioactive environment of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone seem to suffer no damage from radiation. Additionally, these findings could help better understand DNA repair mechanisms and potentially adapt them for human medicine in the future, but let us explain.
A team of biologists discovered something that could change the future, and it revolves precisely around Chernobyl. It involves a species of microscopic worms that are not affected by the radiation in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), which was estimated at 5.6 röntgens per second in the most affected areas of the reactor building, equivalent to over 20,000 röntgens per hour in a 30 km zone where human access is prohibited.
The team led by Sophia Tintori found that these worms have no damage from radiation. However, this does not mean the zone is safe, as it is estimated to remain hazardous for another 10,000 years. Nonetheless, the discovery sheds light on resilience and provides insights into DNA repair mechanisms in humans.
According to the report, these resilient worms can adeptly adapt to conditions that are inhospitable for other species. The insects belong to the species Oschieus tipulae and are characterized by their microscopic round shape and their ability to live inside other organisms. Additionally, they have simple genomes, short life spans, which allows biologists to study several generations in a short period.
The specimens were collected from fruits and soil in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where human presence is prohibited. However, there is still much to discover about this species, and the mystery of how they withstand radiation levels that would be lethal to any other life form must first be unraveled.