Understanding Radiation Across Strata: Biological, Environmental, and Societal Impacts from Earth to Space

Radiation exposure, whether from natural sources, medical applications, nuclear events, or space environments, presents complex challenges that span multiple scales of organization. Advances in dosimetry, molecular biology, and environmental science have improved our ability to characterize radiation interactions. Nevertheless, significant uncertainties remain in linking physical dose to biological and ecological outcomes. Additionally, radiation effects are increasingly studied in non-traditional contexts, including spaceflight and extreme environments, where unique stressors alter both organismal and microbial responses. Parallel to these developments, interest has grown in biological systems capable of interacting with radiation, including fungi and other organisms with potential applications in remediation and resilience. Despite these advances, research efforts remain largely disconnected, limiting our ability to synthesize knowledge across disciplines and apply it to real-world challenges.This Research Topic aims to address the persistent fragmentation in our understanding of radiation as a multiscale phenomenon spanning physical, biological, environmental, and societal domains. While radiation has traditionally been studied within disciplinary boundaries, such as physics, radiobiology, or public health, there remains a critical need to integrate these perspectives into a cohesive framework. This collection seeks to bridge that gap by bringing together contributions that examine radiation effects from molecular and cellular mechanisms to ecosystem-level processes and human responses. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying disconnects between physical dose estimation and biological outcomes, as well as exploring emerging approaches that incorporate stochastic, environmental, and systems-level considerations. By uniting experimental, theoretical, and applied research across terrestrial and space contexts, this Research Topic aims to advance a more comprehensive and actionable understanding of radiation and its impacts.This Research Topic welcomes contributions that explore radiation effects across biological, environmental, and societal systems, with an emphasis on integrative and cross-disciplinary approaches. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Radiation-induced molecular and cellular damage• Advances and limitations in dosimetry and microdosimetry• Radiation effects in spaceflight and extreme environments• Microbial and fungal interactions with radiation• Bioremediation and ecological recovery following radiological exposure• Psychological, societal, and public health responses to radiation eventsWe encourage submissions that bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries and provide novel insights into the mechanisms, variability, and broader implications of radiation exposure. Article types may include original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methods papers that contribute to a more unified understanding of radiation across scales. Topic editors: Tomoko Y Steen, Armin D Weinberg Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80879/understanding-radiation-across-strata-biological-environmental-and-societal-impacts-from-earth-to-space