110 Quadrillion km of fungus beneath our feet: Scientists map earth’s underground ‘highways’

Beneath our feet lies a network 110 quadrillion km long — about one billion times the distance from Earth to the Sun.

That’s the scale of the world’s mycorrhizal fungal “highways” in topsoil, according to the first global map of these underground networks.

The fungi are critical for ecosystems, food production and carbon removal, yet they’ve remained largely unmapped until now.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield analyzed data from hundreds of sites worldwide. They found grasslands are among the most important hotspots for fungal life. The result challenges the common focus on trees alone when discussing carbon storage and ecosystem restoration.

“Our study provides a crucial baseline: the first global map of where these fungal networks are and how much exists,” said lead author Prof Kate Field. “To improve soil health, strengthen food security and build resilience to climate change, we need to pay more attention to the life-support system beneath our feet,” Field said.