Beneath the apparent solitude of trees in a forest or plants in a meadow exists a bustling community connected through sophisticated networks. These natural systems communicate, share resources, and support one another through intricate underground pathways and airborne signals, creating a collaborative ecosystem that challenges our traditional view of nature as a competitive arena. Mycorrhizal networks serve as the primary infrastructure for this hidden connectivity. Fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, creating vast subterranean webs that can connect hundreds of plants simultaneously. Through these fungal pathways, trees transfer nutrients to shaded seedlings, warn neighbors of insect attacks, and even recognize their own kin—prioritizing resources for related plants. Scientists have…