Ionizing radiation is an unavoidable challenge in space exploration. How can we address this issue?

The radiotrophic fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum, found in Chernobyl’s cooling water, uses melanin to survive in high-radiation environments. Could melanin be used to protect against radiation?

Using synthetic biology, we can engineer microbes to efficiently produce melanin. But with limited oxygen in space, how can we transport these strains? Microalgae, known for their efficient photosynthesis and resilience, might form a symbiotic system with melanin-producing microbes.

Melanin alone may not suffice. Could we enhance its properties by turning it into a material? For instance, combining melanin with hydrogels could create a composite with radioprotective, structural, and environmental advantages, while preventing strain leakage.

Melanin, composite materials, and life support systems offer new opportunities for space exploration. Let our ECIB-PKU spacecraft boldly explore the cosmos.