Living Shields: Harnessing Radiotrophic Fungal Melanin for Sustainable Lunar and Martian Habitats

Cosmic radiation represents a critical barrier to long-term human presence beyond Earth’s magnetosphere, particularly in lunar and Martian environments [1]. Traditional shielding materials—such as regolith, water, and metallic alloys— face significant logistical, economic, and structural limitations [2]. This study investigates the potential of fungal melanin, a biological pigment known for its radiation-shielding properties in extreme environments (e.g., Chernobyl and spaceflight), as a lightweight and sustainable alternative for space architecture [3,4,5]. We propose an architectural framework for integrating fungal melanin into bio-inspired coatings, analyzing species-specific variations and production feasibility [6]. Comparative assessments indicate that melanin offers superior mass efficiency and architectural flexibility over conventional materials [7]. The research concludes with a roadmap for hybrid material integration and experimental validation, establishing a biologically-driven paradigm for resilient extraterrestrial habitats [8,9].