Social networks
of plants
Did you know: Organisms, like bacteria, use fungal networks for transport. These microscopic ‘superhighways’ allow microbes to move quickly between different roots.
Fungal networks formed by mycorrhizal fungi
connect plant roots underground.
Fungi & plants trade nutrients underground
Did you know: Fungi can ‘play the market’, and actively move resources to roots willing to pay more. What can humans learn about economics underground?
Play video
Watch fungi & plants trade
nutrients underground.
Flows beneath our feet
Did you know: Mycorrhizal fungi can transport nutrients and carbon in different directions, but it is unknown how they coordinate this movement across their networks.
Nutrients and carbon flow through mycorrhizal networks in complex patterns. How does the fungus control the speed and direction of the nutrients as they trade with plant roots?
Network design
shaped by evolution
Did you know: Fungal networks use algorithms shaped by evolution to solve complex problems. Scientists are now exploring the computing potential of fungi.
Fungi are experts at locating and extracting nutrients. What can we learn about fungal network architecture in the design of our own transport, computer, and financial networks?
Kokkoris et al.