Underground fungal network spans 110 quadrillion kilometers and reveals an invisible infrastructure larger than previously imagined.

Written by Caio Aviz

Published on 15/06/2026 at 09:37

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Study published in Science shows how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form a gigantic underground network, mapped with machine learning and over 16,000 soil samples

A scientific discovery with significant environmental impact was recently announced, attracting international attention. The underground network formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is approximately 110 quadrillion kilometers long, according to a study published in the journal Science in June 2026. The length is roughly 750 billion times the distance between Earth and the Sun and reveals the scale of an essential biological infrastructure. This network operates beneath the soil, connected to plants, and helps sustain ecosystems, distribute nutrients, store carbon, and protect watercourses from chemicals.

Technical mapping reveals unprecedented scale of the underground network

The research was conducted by scientists from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, known as Spun, using machine learning models. The researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 soil samples collected from different regions of the world and produced the first global map of this biological infrastructure. The lead author, Justin Stewart, told The Guardian that there could be up to 10 meters of mycorrhizal network in just one teaspoon of soil. The estimate shows how almost invisible structures can form systems on a planetary scale.

Denser regions draw researchers’ attention

The areas with the highest density of these networks include places like the Everglades in Florida, the flooded grasslands of Sudd in South Sudan, as well as prairie and steppe ecosystems. Many of these regions, despite their ecological importance, face increasing pressure from human activities and have low levels of environmental protection. This scenario increases the risk of degradation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi networks and concerns researchers studying soil conservation.

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Human activities reduce the strength of fungal ecosystems

The average density of networks in agricultural areas was reported to be 47.3% lower than that observed in wild ecosystems. Large-scale agricultural practices damage these structures, according to Justin Stewart. Plowing appears as one of the most evident techniques, as it penetrates the soil, turns the earth, and breaks part of the underground connections. Fertilizers and fungicides can also disrupt the symbiosis between plants and fungi, reducing the efficiency of this natural relationship.

Reduction of networks can affect carbon, nutrients, and rivers

Lower density fungal networks decrease the soil’s ability to store carbon, distribute nutrients, and protect waterways from nitrogen, phosphorus, and other chemicals. Researcher Toby Kiers warned that if these networks disappear, there will be much more chemicals in the waterways. The warning reinforces the importance of these organisms for environmental functions that are rarely seen but directly influence the quality of ecosystems.

Espécies preservadas em frascos de museu ao lado de cenário costeiro com floresta tropical, peixes e caracóis, representando a uniformização da biodiversidade no Homogenoceno.

Research seeks to guide environmental decisions

The ultimate goal of the study is to help scientists and decision-makers understand where fungal ecosystems are thriving and where they are threatened. From the global map produced by Spun, researchers can more accurately observe which areas concentrate dense underground networks and which regions need attention. This advancement broadens the understanding of life below the soil and shows that environmental protection also depends on invisible structures.

The future of subterranean fungi conservation

The discovery places arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a broader context of environmental conservation. These organisms do not appear in the landscape like forests, rivers, or wetlands, but they play decisive roles in the balance of ecosystems. The continuation of research can help transform how governments, scientists, and producers view the soil.

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Underground fungal network spans 110 quadrillion kilometers and reveals an invisible infrastructure larger than previously imagined.

Study published in Science shows how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form a gigantic underground network, mapped with machine learning and over 16,000 soil samples

Technical mapping reveals unprecedented scale of the underground network

Denser regions draw researchers’ attention

Human activities reduce the strength of fungal ecosystems

Reduction of networks can affect carbon, nutrients, and rivers

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Underground fungal network spans 110 quadrillion kilometers and reveals an invisible infrastructure larger than previously imagined.

Study published in Science shows how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form a gigantic underground network, mapped with machine learning and over 16,000 soil samples

Technical mapping reveals unprecedented scale of the underground network

Denser regions draw researchers’ attention

Human activities reduce the strength of fungal ecosystems

Reduction of networks can affect carbon, nutrients, and rivers

Homogenocene: The Era of Life Uniformity on Earth That Advances and Replaces Unique Species with Adaptable Organisms on a Global Scale

Research seeks to guide environmental decisions

The future of subterranean fungi conservation

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Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

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