Soil is perhaps one of the most underrated and least understood wonders on our planet. Far from being lifeless dirt, a single gram of soil is estimated to contain up to 50,000 species of microscopic organisms, and one teaspoon can hold more microorganisms than there are people on Earth. Despite this incredible hidden universe literally lying under our feet, humans have only identified a tiny fraction of the extraordinary life teeming underground.
Millions of years of evolutionary competition among these microorganisms have led them to produce antibiotic compounds to fight their neighbors. These very compounds form the basis of many of the antibiotics we use today, meaning we quite literally make medicine from our soil. There is untold potential for new treatments that could still be waiting to be discovered beneath the surface.
One of the most special creatures in the soil ecosystem is the earthworm. Charles Darwin was deeply fascinated by them, noting their crucial role in making and sustaining soil. Earthworms create "breathing holes," acting like lungs for the soil, allowing plant roots to grow and keeping the soil alive. Furthermore, the soil houses vast and intricate webs of fungal threads. Plants and fungi engage in a mutually beneficial trade: plants provide the fungi with carbon to grow, and in return, the fungi mine and supply plants with vital nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This intricate, interconnected ecosystem links decaying plant matter to microbes, worms, birds, and ultimately, provides humans with almost everything we eat.
The slow pace of soil formation underscores its preciousness. It takes over a century to build just five millimeters (half a centimeter) of soil, yet it can be destroyed in mere moments through erosion, chemical contamination, urbanization, and landslides. Some soil is incredibly ancient, with the oldest known examples in South Africa dating back three billion years. Beyond sustaining life, soil is a supremely valuable carbon store, locking away stable carbon deep underground. It stores three times as much carbon as all the plants on Earth combined, including all the trees.
Despite its vital importance, we are currently failing to protect our soil. Intensive farming is a major problem, as it releases carbon from the soil, leading to a loss rate 50 to 100 times faster than the soil’s ability to rebuild. In Europe, 60 to 70 percent of soils are thought to be unhealthy, and across many countries, the poor regulation and protection of soil are concerning. Soil filters and cleans our water, reduces flooding, regulates our atmosphere, and is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet. Yet, the sad truth is that soil does not have enough champions fighting for it. We must recognize its untapped potential, wonder, and secrets that lie waiting to be discovered in the ground beneath us.
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