When scientists study the DNA of tiny organisms in the air, water, and soil, they often find thousands of cryptic fragments that do not match any known species. These fragments belong to “dark fungi,” which are all around us but have not been discovered yet. There are between 2 and 12 million types of fungi that remain undiscovered. For a long time, biologists thought that fungi were plants, but they are actually very different. Fungi do not use sunlight for energy like plants do. Instead, they eat by breaking down things or taking nutrients from other living things.
Fungi have a special relationship with plants. Some fungi, like ectomycorrhizal 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. They can even eat radiation and use it for energy.
Scientists have found that 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. Fungi are a key part of the ecosystem and play a crucial role in keeping the environment healthy.
