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The Hidden Web: Earth's Fungi Networks Span 110 Quadrillion KilometresOur planet’s soils contain a biological infrastructure of staggering magnitude, capable of sustaining life and regulating the climate on a scale previously unimaginable. A groundbreaking new study published in Science has calculated that the total length of subterranean fungi networks is approximately 110 quadrillion kilometres.The First Global Map of Subterranean LifeThe research, led by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (Spun), marks the first time scientists have mapped the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi globally. By utilizing machine-learning models on data from over 16,000 soil cores, the team has visualized the density of these hyphal networks across the globe.Partnership Scale: These networks form symbiotic relationships with more than 70% of all plant species.Age of the Network: These fungal systems have been sustaining life for about 475 million years.Density: There can be up to 10 metres of mycorrhizal network in just a single teaspoon of soil.The Scale of the Underground WebThe sheer magnitude of this biological web is difficult to comprehend. If stretched end-to-end, the fungi networks would reach a distance of 110 quadrillion kilometres, which is almost 750 million times the distance from the Earth to the sun.The study identified grasslands as the ecosystems with the densest hyphal systems. Exceptionally high densities were found in the Everglades in Florida, the Sudd flooded grasslands of South Sudan, and global prairie and steppe ecosystems.Agriculture's Silent DisruptionDespite their critical importance, the study highlights a significant threat to this infrastructure: modern agriculture. Researchers found that network densities in cropland are on average 47.3% lower than in wild ecosystems.Physical Damage: Practices like tilling physically rip up the soil, destroying the fungal networks.Chemical Disruption: Fertilizers and fungicides can disrupt the symbiosis between plants and fungi.Dr. Toby Kiers warned that the loss of these networks could lead to increased chemical runoff into waterways and a reduced capacity for soil to store carbon.Restoring the Earth's Biological InfrastructureThe researchers are advocating for a shift in agricultural practices to protect these underground allies. By reducing the reliance on heavy fertilizers and adopting soil-friendly farming methods, farmers could potentially boost yields naturally while improving carbon sequestration.The study’s data is set to be presented to governments at the upcoming desertification COP in Mongolia in August, aiming to influence policy and conservation strategies for the future.