There’s more than a bunch of rocks to be found when digging deep underground, but even researchers were surprised after a recent survey beneath the Great Lakes. “For a long time, there wasn’t evidence that eukaryotes can be abundant in the deep subsurface,” said Moon. With many more similar deep subsurface ecosystems existing around the world, the study findings complicates our understanding of carbon sequestration. “Regardless of whether these fungi originated in or were introduced to these deep spaces, many fungi possess adaptations that allow them to grow and influence the carbon dynamics deep in the earth,” he said. “Our study challenges the idea that it’s inhospitable for more complex life like fungi in the deep subsurface,” added Moon.