"With machine learning and a high-resolution imaging robot, scientists measured and mapped the extent of Earth’s carbon circulatory system."
"A hidden circulatory system pulses just beneath the planet’s surface. There, embedded in the soil, are dense networks of microorganisms known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi attach themselves to the roots of plants, sending long, thin filaments out through the soil. These ferry water and nutrients to plants and whisk away carbon, helping to keep vast quantities of it out of the atmosphere.
Laid end to end, these filaments would extend for 68 quadrillion miles — roughly 730 million times the distance between Earth and the sun, scientists reported in a new paper. Collectively, the filaments contain approximately 300 megatons of carbon, or four to six times as much as the carbon contained by all the human beings on the planet, according to the study, which was published in Science on Thursday.
An international team of scientists conducted the research, using a combination of advanced techniques, including machine learning and a high-resolution imaging robot, to measure, predict and map the size of these fungal networks in ecosystems across the globe.
The study revealed particularly dense fungal networks beneath the world’s grasslands, adding to the evidence that these ecosystems, which tend to receive less conservation protection than forests, serve as significant carbon sinks for the planet."
Emily Anthes reports for the New York Times June 11, 2026.
