Scientists map massive underground fungi network that stores 4 billion tons of CO2 yearly

Researchers have published the first global map of the underground fungal network, revealing an estimated 110 quadrillion kilometers of mycorrhizal fungi that transport about 4 billion tons of CO2 into the soil each year. The study, published in Science, analyzed over 16,000 soil samples using AI and ecological models to quantify this biological infrastructure that supports 70% of plants and stores carbon. This discovery highlights a natural carbon sink that operates at a massive scale, but the authors note the network is threatened by intensive agriculture. The findings could inform land management practices and carbon accounting, though exact mechanisms and regional variations still need more research.