A study published in the journal Science estimates that there are approximately 110 quadrillion kilometers of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks underground worldwide. If these networks were connected in a single line, they would stretch nearly a billion times the distance between Earth and the sun. These fungal networks form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, providing essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in exchange for carbon. Previous research indicates that these networks sequester about 1 billion tons of carbon underground each year, which helps mitigate atmospheric warming. The study, led by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), utilized literature reviews, soil samples, machine learning, and laboratory testing to estimate the distribution and mass of these fungal systems and to identify areas where they are most dense.
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New research maps global underground fungal networks
A new study published in Science reveals that underground fungal networks span approximately 110 quadrillion kilometers globally, potentially stretching nearly a billion times the distance from Earth to the sun. These networks play a crucial role in nutrient exchange with plants and sequester about 1 billion tons of carbon annually, helping to reduce atmospheric warming.
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Original Headline
Threads of underground fungal networks are long enough to reach beyond the Solar System
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New research maps global underground fungal networks