🧠 The Daily Fact #16

The largest living organism on Earth isn’t a whale or a tree—it’s a fungus! Known as the "humongous fungus," a single honey fungus in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest spans over 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) across and is estimated to be at least 2,400 years old, though some believe it could be closer to 8,000 years. This underground giant connects through a vast network of mycelium, allowing it to absorb nutrients from the soil and trees. Despite its massive size, most of it is hidden beneath the forest floor, with only small mushroom clusters occasionally visible above ground.