Episode 376
For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth鈥檚 vast underground fungal network – and it鈥檚 bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic relationship, sharing nutrients through fine fungal threads called hyphae.
With these new global maps, we鈥檙e now starting to understand just how important the mycorrhizal network is in keeping the Earth鈥檚 climate stable – including the extent of the carbon it draws down.
But the ecosystems where these networks exist are being stripped back for agriculture and damaged by fungicides – so how can we protect them?
To explore this topic, Rowan Hooper is joined by some of the researchers behind the project – Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu and Merlin Sheldrake.
To read more about these stories, visit /
Find out more about SPUN, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks: 听
See the Mycorrhizal Infrastructure Map: 听听
Read Rowan鈥檚 symbiosis book 鈥楾ogetherness鈥�:
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