Scientists have mapped Earth’s vast underground fungal network, revealing it is so extensive that, if stretched into a single line, it could reach other star systems and span a significant portion of the Milky Way.
The study, published in Science, focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi—microscopic organisms that form a hidden framework in soil. These fungi help circulate water and nutrients, support plant life, and influence climate by storing large amounts of carbon.
Global Scale and Ecological Importance of Earth’s Fungal Biomass
Researchers estimate the global fungal network weighs about 300 megatons, roughly four to six times the total biomass of all humans combined. Key ecosystems and plant dependence on underground fungal networks
The findings highlight how crucial—but often overlooked—these underground systems are. Scientists involved in the research emphasize understanding and protecting these fungi, particularly as grasslands are increasingly being transformed for human use.
Mapping Earth’s Hidden Fungal Network Through Data and Machine Learning
To build the map, researchers analyzed over 16,000 soil samples from hundreds of previous studies and used machine learning to estimate the density of fungal filaments across global topsoil. Their model suggests Earth contains more than 110 quadrillion kilometers of fungal threads—about 12,000 light-years if laid end to end, or roughly one-tenth the width of the Milky Way.
While this offers the most detailed picture yet of these networks, scientists note uncertainty about their overall health. Fungal density appears significantly lower in agricultural soils, but large gaps remain in understanding where these ecosystems are thriving or under threat.
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