Beneath the canopy: Pioneering satellite reveals rainforests’ hidden worlds

The world’s rainforests are vital for our survival. They cover just 6% of the world’s land, yet host half of the planet’s species and store billions of tonnes of planet-warming gases, helping to mitigate climate change.

But rainforests are dense and sprawling. Scientists have struggled to understand what lies beneath the treetops because even the most powerful satellites cannot penetrate their thick canopies – until now.