Welcome to Good News from Planet Earth! In this Spooky Good News episode, we’re uncovering a secret network beneath our feet that’s silently saving the world.Close your eyes… Imagine a web stretching across a forest. A living, breathing network hiding in the dark soil, whispering between roots. Sounds like Stranger Things? Maybe — but this isn’t the Upside Down. It’s fungi. Spooky. Silent. Essential.Fungi don’t just break down dead stuff. About 80–90% of land plants rely on them in a partnership called mycorrhizae — tiny filaments wrapping around roots, exchanging nutrients and sugars. This underground network is a carbon powerhouse, storing an estimated 13 billion tons of carbon annually — roughly equal to China’s emissions.Scientists are now harnessing fungi to heal damaged forests. In Scotland’s Hebrides, reintroducing fungal networks helped seedlings survive where trees had previously failed. In Colombia, endangered black oak trees are thriving thanks to fungi that boost resilience and nutrients. Mycorrhizal fungi are the ultimate “networkers” of the forest, connecting species, recycling life, and forming the backbone of soil health.Sure, if you’ve watched The Last of Us, you might think fungi are terrifying zombie-makers. Cordyceps hijack insects — shudder! — but forest fungi? They connect life rather than destroy it. Scientists even call this vast underground web the “Wood Wide Web.”Yet fungi are under threat. Pollution, deforestation, and climate change are pushing many species toward extinction. Nearly a third of fungi are on the Red List. Most fungal hotspots have zero protection. Conservationists are now recognizing fungi’s importance, restoring soil, and helping ancient forests thrive again.Next time you spot a toadstool on a walk, remember: it’s the fruit of an underground civilization — one that came before us, may outlive us, and quietly keeps the planet alive.Spooky things aren’t just in haunted houses. Sometimes, they’re beneath your feet — silent, unseen, and saving the world. Fungi aren’t just decomposers. They’re connectors. They’re healers. And in the grand story of Earth, they might just be its quiet heroes.If you loved this episode, share it with someone who appreciates the wonderfully weird and sometimes spooky planet we call home — and help spread the word about our forgotten fungi!Narrated by Ally Murphy from Voiceover for the PlanetSupport the showGood News from Planet Earth is brought to you by Voiceover for the Planet, proud members of 1% for the Planet. Produced by Ally Murphy and Anne Cloud Sound Designed and Mixed by Brandon Perry at Sound Nectar Studios If you'd like a member of Voiceover for the Planet to narrate your project, email [email protected]

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