A groundbreaking study has revealed that underground fungal networks span approximately 110 quadrillion kilometers globally, a length that would stretch nearly a billion times the Earth-Sun distance. These arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with 80% of plant species, annually sequestering 1 billion tons of carbon. The research, led by SPUN, provides the first global mapping of these networks using machine learning and soil samples, highlighting their density in grasslands and decline in agricultural areas.
Background
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, exchanging nutrients for carbon while helping sequester significant amounts of carbon underground. These networks are crucial for ecosystem health but have been difficult to study at a global scale until now.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jun 13, 2026 at 07:18 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10