Scientists drilled 1,640 feet beneath Michigan and found 689 kinds of fungi living in water

Scientists drilled 1,640 feet beneath Michigan and found 689 fungal species in water isolated for 11,000 years.

The University of Michigan study, published in The ISME Journal, identifies 13 previously unknown fungal species.

A single drop of underground water from the Antrim Shale contains about 250 fungal cells, similar to ocean water density.

The discovery suggests subsurface fungal biomass may be significantly underestimated in global biodiversity estimates.

The research community included fungi, tiny worms, and tardigrades, challenging assumptions about life in deep subsurface environments.