Threads of Earth’s Underground Fungal Networks Are Long Enough to Reach Beyond the Solar System

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks, found underground globally, measure 110 quadrillion kilometers in total length. This vast subterranean web, if stretched into a single line, would extend nearly one billion times the distance between the Earth and the sun. Researchers have quantified the length and mass of these fungal networks for the first time and mapped the ecosystems where they are most concentrated. The findings were published in the journal Science on Thursday. These fungal networks are crucial for nutrient exchange between plants and soil, playing a vital role in ecosystem health and carbon cycling. The study's lead author, Wyatt Myskow, highlighted the immense scale of this hidden biological infrastructure. Understanding the distribution and density of these networks is essential for comprehending soil health, plant resilience, and the overall functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The research provides a foundational dataset for future studies on soil biology and its impact on global environmental processes.