The Rainforest you didn’t know existed

Secrets Under the Soil

Did you know trees talk to each other underground? Hidden below the forest floor is a web of tiny fungal threads called mycelium that connects tree roots like an internet for plants! Through this “Wood-Wide Web,” trees share water, nutrients—and even send warning signals about invading bugs or an oncoming forest fire. Older “mother trees” help younger trees grow by sending sugar and water their way and in return for their delivery, the mycelium gets sweet sap reward. It’s a clever trade!

Let’s spill the tree “tea”: not all trees are "kind," and not all messages are “friendly”. Some trees will send toxic chemicals through the network to slow down their neighbors’ growth, and a sneaky fungus might deliver more nutrients to a certain tree that gives it more sugar in return.

Scientists are still uncovering how this mysterious underground network really works, but one thing’s for sure: forests are full of teamwork, trickery, and amazing secrets!