Are the trees sharing secrets with each other beneath our feet? Sophia and Scarlett from Wollongong Public School think so. This video has been nominated for a Eureka Prize.
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00:00 Scarlett, it's an emergency! Our Sleek Ik movie is due in one week!
00:07 Sophia, calm down. Meet me at our secret spot in 10 minutes.
00:13 Communication, support and collaboration are a vital part of our human world.
00:19 But this is also important for our green neighbours.
00:23 Trees! It may not be visible from the surface,
00:27 but underneath our feet there is a vast web of tiny threads
00:33 that connect every tree in the forest, creating an intriguing intruder.
00:38 This network is called mycelium. It is made of underground fungi.
00:44 Fungi connect to the roots of trees and provide them with nutrients from the soil.
00:49 In return, they receive carbon-rich sugars from the trees
00:54 so they need to survive and produce mushrooms.
00:57 This symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants is called mycorrhizae.
01:03 Scientists discovered trees are using this intranet to send each other messages,
01:09 share resources, form friendships, create alliances, nurture their young
01:16 and even fight each other, which sometimes can be very toxic.
01:23 The social life of the trees is hidden and exotic,
01:26 but it is real and make forest communities stronger and more resilient.
01:32 Understanding this network could help scientists to reverse some of the worst impacts
01:37 that we cause on our planet, including deforestation and climate change.
01:43 Can you imagine the secrets we can learn about these ancient communities?
01:49 Only scientists learn to understand the language of the emerald giants that live alongside us.
01:57 (birds chirping)
01:59 (birds chirping)