The answer to that question is probably “yes”.  Scientists speculate that there are likely at least 200,000 species of fungi existing in nature, although only half of that number has been identified and classified.  These known species are commonly divided into five phyla:  Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota, and Mycophycophyta.

The significance of fungi is easily understated.  A sublime combination of complexity and simplicity allows fungi a very powerful position in our universe – a Shiva-like existence that at once destroys and paves the way for new life.

What makes fungi so powerful?  Diversity, and the nearly immortal ability to survive.  In 2000, crew members on the International Space Station Mir discovered and that a mysterious film was spreading over and deteriorating one of the station’s portholes.  After returning to Earth (at a external reentry temperature of nearly 3000 degrees Fahrenheit), it was determined that the film was a colony of fungi and bacteria which somehow was able to be present and thrive, partially destroying a titanium mounted, enamel coated extra-hard quartz glass porthole.  This particular fungus was one of over one hundred fungi found on Mir.  In fact, the issue of fungus in space is an especially dangerous one because microorganisms tend to mutate significantly in space, possibly because of the high levels of radiation as compared to those found on Earth.

If such an organism were to be cultivated on Earth the result might be catastrophic.  For example, an organism that is able to use metal as a habitat might result in a metal-consuming biological weapon.  Of course, there are extensive decontamination procedures in place to prevent such sci-fi outbreaks, but if fungi are as resilient as they appear to be it might be wiser to leave them in space.  After all, we civilians aren’t even allowed to transport apples from one county to another – are special NASA wet naps really good enough to protect humanity from irradiated space fungi?  We hope they are.

Yes, Fungus Is Amazing.  What Does This Have To Do With My Health?

Sources:

Fungi – General Characteristics, Nutrition And Ecology, Evolution, Classification, Zygomycota, Conjugating Fungi, Ascomycota, Sac Fungi

Space Fungus: A Menace to Orbital Habitats, Yuri Karash

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/discovery

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