The global map of the underground fungal network is published

Paris – 20.06.2026: Scientists have recently published a comprehensive map of the underground fungal network that extends for 450 quadrillion kilometers, approximately half the width of our galaxy. This network, also known as the mycorrhizal network, consists of microscopic filaments, hyphae, which run through the soil and play a crucial role in the ecosystem.

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) created this map by compiling 2.8 billion DNA sequences from around the world. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of this network and promote its protection. The mycorrhizal network facilitates the exchange of nutrients and information between plants and fungi and is essential for plant health and growth.

The discovery of this vast network highlights the complexity and extent of underground ecosystems. It shows how closely plants and fungi are connected, and how crucial these connections are for the survival of many species. Research in this area could help develop more sustainable agricultural practices and preserve biodiversity.

SPUN emphasizes that protecting this underground network is important not only for the environment but also for human society. By promoting the understanding and protection of these networks, we can contribute to biodiversity conservation and the fight against climate change.

This pioneering discovery opens new perspectives for ecological research and underscores the need to better understand and protect underground habitats. Future studies will focus on deciphering the precise mechanisms of this network and further exploring its role in various ecosystems.

The publication of this map represents a significant step in underground biodiversity research and could have broad implications for environmental sciences. It reminds us how little we know about the complex relationships in nature and the importance of exploring and conserving them.

Overall, this finding reveals the astonishing complexity and extent of underground habitats and emphasizes the need to better understand and protect them. It opens new opportunities for ecological research and could help develop more sustainable practices in agriculture and nature conservation.

SPUN plans to continue its research and collect more data to gain an even more detailed picture of the underground fungal network. This could contribute to a better understanding of the role of these networks in the global carbon cycle and assess their importance in the face of climate change.