A new study reports the first complete, global-scale map of a fungal network that connects plants and helps regulate Earth’s climate. The researchers focus on mycorrhizal fungi—organisms that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots—building an underground web that improves how plants access water and nutrients. According to the study, this network also plays a role in broader climate processes by influencing ecosystem function and, indirectly, how carbon is cycled across landscapes. Several outlets highlight that the mapping effort covers fungi across many environments rather than a single region, aiming to quantify the extent and structure of the underground system. The coverage also points to related scientific work and media showing mycorrhizae in motion, reflecting growing interest in how these networks operate dynamically. Overall, the reports describe the map as a milestone for ecology and climate research, providing a reference framework that could help scientists model how plant–fungus relationships affect global environmental outcomes.