Are plants talking to each other? A science mission is set to explore one of the final mysteries of our planet: the network of fungus beneath our feet.
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The hidden power of the wood wide web
Are plants talking to each other? A science mission is set to explore one of the final mysteries of our planet: the network of fungus beneath our feet.
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What's happening?
Beneath every forest is an underground web. Plants use it to send each other messages.
Scientists are starting to learn more about their secret language.
A fungus is a kind of living thing. It breaks down dead plants and animals for food.
Experts once thought fungiFungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores. were harmful for plants. But this is not true. In fact, they help them.
Find out more
Fungi make a special connection with trees and plants. It helps them share food.
There are millions of links between trees and plants. Experts call it the "Wood Wide Web".
Now, they are making a map to show how it works.
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Are plants talking to each other?
Yes! They share food and information. It may not sound like human speech, but they are talking all the same!
No! These links are amazing. But they do not mean plants are talking. This is just one of nature's wonders!
Keywords
Fungi - Fungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores.
The hidden power of the wood wide web
Glossary
Fungi - Fungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores.