By Jack Dini ——Bio and Archives--February 28, 2025
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Microscopic worms that live in the highly radioactive environment of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) appear to do so completely free of radiation damage reported Michelle Starr recently. (1)
This was originally reported in 1982 indicating that worms can encapsulate toxic heavy metals before excreting them, which leaves the metal isolated in a hard shell. This is what happened after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and why the local environment looks so good now. (2)
Nematodes collected from the area have shown no sign of damage to their genome, contrary to what might be expected for organisms living in such a dangerous place. The finding doesn’t suggest the CEZ is safe, researchers say, but rather the worms are resilient and able to adroitly adapt to conditions that might be inhospitable to other species.
Lead researcher Sophia Tinton says, “One way to gain insight into this question is to look at nematode-microscopic roundworms that live in a range of habitats. Nematodes can be remarkably hardy; there have been multiple cases of reawakening after of thousands of years frozen in permafrost. They have simple genomes, and have short lives, which means multiple generations can be studied in a short space of time. This makes them excellent model organisms for studying a range of things, from biological developments to DNA repair and toxin response. (3)
The team carefully analyzed the worms’ genome and found, no evidence of the large scale chromosomal, rearrangement expected from a mutagenic environment. They also found no correlation between the mutation rate of the worms and the strength of the ambient radiation at the location each worm hailed from.
Finally, they conducted tests on the descendants on each of 20 worm strains to determine how well the population tolerates DNA damage. Although each lineage had a different tolerance level, this too, had no correlation with the ambient radiation in which their ancestors were exposed. The team could only conclude that there is no evidence of any genetic impact of the CEZ environment on the genomes of the worms.
What they did find could help researchers try to figure out why some humans are more susceptible to cancer than others. “Thinking about how individuals respond differently to DNA damaging agents in the environment is something that will help us have a clear version of our own risk factors,” researchers say. (3)
T. D. Luckey reports the remarkable survival of a rat colony on Enjebi Island in the Eniwetok atoll. Enjebi is part of the Marshall Islands and site of the “X-ray Nuclear Test” in 1948 during Operation Sandstone. Within one year following four nuclear explosions, healthy rats emerged from the protection of cable tunnels. Pregnancy rates, sex ratios, and average number of embryos per liter were comparable with those found before the four nuclear devastations. The colony rapidly expended to fill the 250 acre island. No mutations were observed. (4)
Dixy Lee Ray discusses a colony of rats that occupy a mound in the Brazilian area of Morro do Ferro. This is a weathered mound, 250 meters tall that contains an estimated 30,000 metric tons of thorium and 100,000 tons of rare metals. The radiation level is so high that autoradiographs (photographs produced by radiation) show plants on the mound actually glowing in the dark. The overall radiation dose they receive is roughly three times the concentration that should produce tumors or other radiation effects. Yet, no abnormalities were found in the rats that were trapped and autopsied. (5)
Another example of worms and toxic environments is Foundry Cove, which is on the Hudson River across from West Point. Between 1963 and 1970 industry in the area dumped more than 100 tons of nickel- cadmium waste into the cove along with other toxins including arsenic and lead.
As much as 25% of the cove’s bottom sediment dwelling consisted of cadmium, which is highly toxic. Yet many bottom dwelling invertebrates were present in numbers no fewer than in unpolluted areas at other sites. Whereas, local cove worms thrived and reproduced, worms from a nearby cove showed clear signs of distress, or died when placed in Foundry Cove. Yet offspring of Foundry Cove worms raised in clean muds were tolerant of cadmium, leading to the conclusion that genes were largely responsible for the tolerance. This degree of metal tolerance could have developed in just 2 to 4 generations, or a couple of years. (2)
Furthermore, although some species inhabiting nearby waterways are missing from Foundry Cove, most adapted to the unusual conditions. Just 100 yards downstream is an Audubon Society sanctuary for migrating birds which has prospered.
Deinococcus radiodurans is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as ‘the world’s toughest bacterium.’ In addition to being resistant to radiation, these bacteria can also survive severe droughts, extreme cold, and strong acids.
Deinococcus radiodurans handles doses of radiation that would kill a human tens of thousands of times over, earning the nickname ‘Conan the Barbarian’ after the valiant pulp fantasy character. (6)
The secret to the microbes strength lies in an assortment of highly potent antioxidants that mop up the mess of oxygen radicals before they can damage proteins critical to the cells repair process.
Like many organisms, D. radiourans has evolved an insurance policy against oxygen damage in the form of a mix of antioxidants. Some are based on the element manganese, which when paired up with a variety of other materials, such as phosphate, eases the stress of rampaginvg oxygen with remarkable efficiency.
Hidden within an industrial landscape, an unlikely wildlife refuge is reshaping the fate of American crocodiles. What was once a species on the brink is now finding new hope in an unexpected place. (7)
In an unusual twist of nature and industry, Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, just south of Miami, has become a thriving sanctuary for American crocodiles, a species once on the brink of extinction.
Today, roughly 25% of the US crocodile population resides in this artificial habitat, benefiting from man-made nesting sites and a carefully managed environment.
Back in 1975, the American crocodile was classified as endangered, with fewer than 300 individuals left in Florida. Just two years later, workers at Turkey Point stumbled upon a crocodile nest in the plant’s network of cooling canals. Instead of removing the reptiles, Florida Power & Light launched a program to protect the resident crocs.
The Turkey Point crocodile program has had a major impact on the species recovery. In 2007, the US Fish and Wildlife Service officially downlisted the American crocodile from endangered to threatened, thanks in part to the efforts at the nuclear plant. Since 1978, approximately 7,000 crocodile hatchlings have been captured, measured, and tracked. (7)
More than half of Florida manatees rely on power plants to survive. (8)
What do manatees do to stay warm? They have to swim to water with warmer temperature. Some power plants pump warm water into the coastal areas, which creates warm places where manatees can spend the winter months.
Conservationists worry about the reduction of artificially warm waters around power plants where the cold sensitive animals gather during the winter as power companies transition away from fossil fuels because of climate change.
-The environment is an example that’s been of concern for a long time. Yet nature has shown an amazing ability to heal itself and adapt to situations we would think are unbearable. Nature is very resilient.
- Evolution is usually thought of as occurring over long time periods, but it can also happen quickly.
- Many organisms have evolved tolerance to natural and human generated toxins.
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John William Dini, know to all as ‘Jack’, passed away at the age of 89 on June 17, 2026. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 14, 1936.
He published two books, a technical book on materials science and coatings and another on environmental issues. In retirement, he wrote extensively on various environmental issues for online publications.
He was a skilled leaded glass hobbyist, creating more than 20 lamps and many panels. He was a jogger for many years, competing in over 300 long distance races. He was a slow runner, not wanting to take the glory away from others. His secret was to start slow and taper. He and Anne traveled extensively, visiting over 70 countries.
He is survived by his wife, Anne, of 67 years, and sons Mike, Steve, and Paul. If you were to meet him somewhere, he would sum up his life as ‘peaches and cream’.