Scientists are looking at the DNA of tiny living things in the air, water, and soil. They find many tiny mysteries that do not match any known species. These are called cryptic organisms or “dark fungi.” There are between 2 and 12 million types of fungi that we do not know about. Fungi are not like plants. They do not use sunlight for energy. Instead, they eat by breaking down things or taking nutrients from other living things. Fungi are more like animals and have been around for over 1 billion years.
Fungi have special relationships with plants. Some fungi help plants get nutrients from the soil. In return, the fungi get carbon to help them grow. This relationship helped plants move from water to land 470 million years ago. Some fungi make special compounds to defend themselves or to trick other living things. These compounds can be antibiotics, toxins, or even psychedelics. Fungi are very good at surviving in extreme places, like nuclear waste areas.
Scientists have found that some fungi can even eat radiation. This is a new way that living things can make energy. Fungi are very important for the Earth. They help plants survive in cold places and can store carbon from the air. This can help stop climate change. Fungi are also very good at working together. They can form big networks under the ground to help plants and store carbon. Scientists think that fungi might be able to store about 1 trillion metric tons of carbon. This is 10 times more than the Amazon rainforest.
