A Forest Has Its Own Hidden Network Some underground fungi connect with the roots of multiple plants, forming what scientists call mycorrhizal networks. You might have heard these networks called the "Wood Wide Web." Although scientists are still investigating exactly how these connections work, we know fungi play important roles in helping plants obtain nutrients and supporting healthy soil ecosystems. There's still much to discover about how resources move between connected plants. Nature hasn't revealed all her secrets just yet! Fungi are mysterious, beautiful, sometimes strange, and absolutely essential to nature. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny organisms hidden in the soil to enormous underground networks that can cover acres of land. Unlike plants, fungi don't make their own food using sunlight. Instead, they absorb nutrients from their surroundings. Fungi include: Mushrooms Molds Yeasts Truffles Puffballs Bracket fungi growing on trees Some are so tiny you need a microscope to see them, while others can spread across enormous areas underground! Until our next discovery, keep looking, keep wondering, and never stop exploring!