Chernobyl Worms Evolve Radiation Immunity

A study has found that microscopic worms living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are exceptionally resilient to radiation, with their genomes found to be undamaged despite chronic exposure. Researchers at New York University collected worms in the area and discovered that the nematode species, Oscheius tipulae, showed no signature of radiation damage. This resilience could potentially provide insights into the fight against cancer by studying why some individuals are more likely to suffer the effects of carcinogens, offering valuable information about genetic predisposition to cancer.