Fungal Empire: A New Chapter in Earth's History The discovery by researchers Rosanna Baker and Arturo Casadevall of a massive fungal bloom following the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs has significant implications for our understanding of life on Earth.
The finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that fungi played a crucial role in recycling organic matter during this pivotal moment in Earth's history.
The sheer scale of this fungal bloom is staggering. Baker and Casadevall's research reveals that fungi constituted 50% or more of the total assemblage at certain geological sites, far surpassing expectations.