63
Health & Science4d 3h ago

Researchers have mapped, for the first time, a vast hidden fungal superhighway estimated to stretch 110 quadrillion kilometers beneath our feet, helping sustain much of life on Earth.

global

Who
Dr. Justin Stewart, Dr. Corentin Bisot, Dr. Toby Kiers, Dr. Merlin Sheldrake, Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), AMOLF research institute
What
Researchers have mapped, for the first time, a vast hidden fungal superhighway estimated to stretch 110 quadrillion kilometers beneath our feet, helping sustain much of life on Earth.
When
Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:01:41 GMT · 4d 3h ago
Where
global ·
Why
This research provides a foundational understanding of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's role in supporting plants and regulating the climate, addressing a previous gap in scientific knowledge regarding the physical density and worldwide distribution of these networks.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

The newly mapped fungal networks transfer approximately 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into soils annually, equivalent to 11% of human-related carbon emissions, and are vital for nutrient cycling and plant health, highlighting their critical importance for global ecosystems and climate stability.

Story chain

1 event in this thread
No related history yet - this is the origin event.

Verified Sources & Citations

No verified citations attached to this thread yet.