They reported that the superbug strains proliferated when exposed to radioactive waste mixtures commonly found at weapons sites. The superbug does not neutralize radioactivity in metals. The pink-colored bacterium smells like rotten cabbage. It was discovered in canned meat in 1956. It is believed to be 2 billion years old, making it one of Earth's earliest life forms.
Scientists believe it evolved when Earth was bombarded with more radiation than today.
It can survive 1.5 million rads of gamma radiation, or about 3,000 times the lethal dose for humans. It also can survive high doses of ultraviolet radiation and long periods of dehydration. Previous studies have demonstrated that its radiation resistance probably involves thousands of genes. Even when hundreds of portions of DNA are damaged by radiation, the microorganism can usually repair itself in a matter of hours, using redundant genetic codes to keep functioning in the meantime.