Fungi’s role in planetary health explored in new podcast
4 reported
A new podcast episode features Dr Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, discussing the importance of fungi for planetary health. Kiers, who has received a MacArthur fellowship and a Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, describes her work mapping fungal networks on the remote Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The episode highlights fungi’s often invisible role in supporting ecosystems, as reported by The Guardian on July 14, 2026.
What’s reported
Dr Toby Kiers is an evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks.
She has received a MacArthur fellowship and a Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.
Her work involves mapping fungal networks on the remote Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
The research reveals fungi’s often invisible role in planetary health.
Key figures
Dr Toby Kiers, evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks
Ian Sample, interviewer (mentioned as the host of the podcast)
Sources: The Guardian
