Vast Fungal Network Beneath Earth Could Span to Other Stars
WHO:
The Seattle Times - Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist at Vrije University Amsterdam and author of the study.
Futurism - Justin Stewart, lead author and biologist at the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).
WHAT:
Science Daily - Researchers estimate that these underground networks move about 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into soils each year.
Futurism - The model found that the planet is lined with more than 110 quadrillion kilometers of hyphae, which equals almost a billion times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or nearly 12,000 light years.
The Seattle Times - Scientists reported that underground fungal networks, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, extend for 68 quadrillion miles.
The Seattle Times - The total mass of these fungal networks is approximately 300 megatons, which is four to six times the biomass of all human beings.
Futurism - The global fungal network weighs around 300 megatons, with around 40 percent residing in high-altitude or flooded grasslands.
The Seattle Times - The density of these networks is roughly 50% lower in soil used for growing crops compared to non-croplands.
WHERE:
The Seattle Times - Dense fungal networks were found particularly beneath the world’s grasslands, including the Florida Everglades, the Sudd wetland in South Sudan, and the Tibetan steppe.
Futurism - The study indicates that the fungal networks span globally, with specific mention of high-altitude or flooded grasslands.
WHEN:
The Seattle Times - The study was published in the journal Science on a Thursday.
WHY:
Futurism - Lead author Justin Stewart stated, “I hope this builds into the conversation for their protection because wild grasslands are going away quite quickly.”
The Seattle Times - The research aims to highlight the importance of underground ecosystems, which are often overlooked and under-protected.
Futurism - The authors hope to raise awareness for the protection of wild grasslands, which are rapidly disappearing.
HOW:
The Seattle Times - Researchers compiled data from hundreds of previously published papers analyzing over 16,000 soil samples to measure fungal density.
The Seattle Times - A machine learning model was trained using this data to predict fungal density at untested locations.
Futurism - The researchers used a machine learning model to predict the density of fungal networks per square kilometer of topsoil based on local density calculations from previous studies.
(UPDATED June 15, 2026 06:45 UTC)
Researchers have discovered that underground networks move approximately 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into soils each year, highlighting the importance of these systems in our ecosystem. The study reveals that the planet is lined with more than 110 quadrillion kilometers of hyphae, which is nearly a billion times the distance between Earth and the Sun, or about 12,000 light years. Lead author Justin Stewart expressed hope that this information will contribute to discussions about protecting wild grasslands, which are disappearing at an alarming rate.
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(UPDATED June 15, 2026 04:21 UTC)
Scientists have discovered that underground fungal networks, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, extend an astonishing 68 quadrillion miles and weigh around 300 megatons, which is four to six times the total biomass of all humans. These dense networks are particularly prevalent beneath grasslands around the world, including notable locations like the Florida Everglades and the Tibetan steppe, but their density is about 50% lower in agricultural soils compared to non-croplands. The research, published in the journal Science, aims to raise awareness about the significance of these often-overlooked underground ecosystems and the urgent need to protect wild grasslands, which are rapidly disappearing.