Scientists Map 300-Megaton Fungi Network, Finding Biomass 4 to 6 Times Human Mass
Updated
Updated · National Geographic · Jun 14
Scientists Map 300-Megaton Fungi Network, Finding Biomass 4 to 6 Times Human Mass
3 articles · Updated · National Geographic · Jun 14
Summary
A Science study produced the first global map of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, estimating their underground networks weigh 300 megatons in the top 15 centimeters of soil.
More than 16,000 soil cores and machine-learning models showed these hyphae average 4.4 meters per square centimeter of soil—about 50 times the length of fine plant roots.
Dry and flooded grasslands, including the Tibetan steppe, Everglades and South Sudan’s Sudd, held the densest networks, with grasslands accounting for 40% of global hyphae biomass.
Croplands had 47% less arbuscular mycorrhizal density than natural grasslands, suggesting tilling and fertilizer use may weaken the plant-fungi partnerships that support crops.
The fungi help store about 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide in soil—roughly 11% of annual human emissions—strengthening calls to protect underground biodiversity hotspots.
Earth's hidden carbon-capturing network is now mapped. How can we legally protect it before it disappears?
Can we boost forest growth with designer fungi without creating a new ecological disaster?
The 110 Quadrillion Kilometer Underground Web: Mapping, Threats, and Conservation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Overview
In June 2026, researchers achieved a scientific milestone by unveiling the first high-resolution global map of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) networks. This was made possible by collecting over 16,000 soil samples from around the world, analyzing them with advanced imaging robots, and processing the data using machine learning algorithms. The resulting map revealed a vast subterranean superhighway, with AMF networks stretching an estimated 110 quadrillion kilometers and weighing 300 megatons. This discovery highlights the immense scale and ecological importance of these hidden fungal networks, fundamentally changing our understanding of Earth's underground biodiversity.