Threads of underground fungal networks are long enough to reach beyond the Solar System

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks, extending an estimated 110 quadrillion kilometers underground globally, possess a collective length that surpasses the distance to the Solar System by nearly a billion times. This finding, detailed in research published in Science on Thursday, highlights the vast, previously unmapped scale of these subterranean systems. These fungal networks engage in a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, facilitating the transfer of essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in return for carbon. Previous studies indicate that these networks sequester approximately 1 billion tons of carbon annually, playing a crucial role in mitigating atmospheric warming. The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), an organization dedicated to mapping these fungal systems, spearheaded the new study. Their methodology involved a comprehensive review of existing literature, analysis of soil samples collected worldwide, the application of machine learning algorithms, and laboratory experimentation to estimate the distribution, mass, and density of these extensive underground networks.