When aquatic plants first started evolving onto land, they couldn’t do so by themselves. Instead, they enlisted fungal mycelium networks. For a few tens of millions of years, they served as roots until the plants could develop their own root systems. Still, about 90 percent of plants today depend on beneficial fungi. As atmospheric carbon amounts are now soaring as humans continue to burn fossil fuels, scientists hope that fungi can help us continue our existence by taking the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and into the ground.

During those tens of millions of years, the Earth saw atmospheric carbon dioxide 90 percent lower than before the plants and fungal root systems. Carbon dioxide traps the Sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing, as it enables life on Earth. But when there is too much of it, the climate is catastrophically changed because of the extra heat.

There are many reasons why there is now renewed interest in fungi. One is that we are dependent on the power networks, which allow us humans to have our modern transportation systems, and the internet, which lets us freely exchange ideas, information, and culture. Another is the fact that there are many beneficial developments (that scientists already know how to accomplish) that we can create using fungi. Fungi can create powerful antiviral compounds that reduce colony collapse disorder in honeybees. Fungi can also break down toxic compounds and produce sustainable materials.

Even though fungi might seem like a godsend for everything we need right now, there is still a problem. Neglected for years, only now are we seriously studying the nature and uses of fungi. This will probably mean we are years away from a quick and easy way to rid ourselves of all this atmospheric carbon dioxide. I just hope we get there for our planet’s and our own sake.