Earth's first large land organisms—tree trunk-like beings that stood up to 26 feet tall—weren't early fungi but, rather, something else entirely, a study suggests

Many researchers suspect that Prototaxites was an early type of fungus. But in a study published January 21 [2026] in the journal Science Advances, a team argues that one species is chemically and structurally distinct from fungi, hinting that the mysterious genus likely represents a previously undiscovered, extinct branch of life.

  • TrackinDaKrakenEnglish
    3·
    1 month ago

    The thing about the unknown is it’s unknown. There are an unknown amount of undiscovered branches of life, and the fossil record we know at the moment is but a tiny fraction of what has lived on Earth. Most of it is lost forever.