Researchers studied how a fungus called Podospora anserina adapts its growth pattern when exposed to challenging conditions like nutrient scarcity, temperature changes, and bright light. Using a novel computer mapping technique borrowed from geography, they discovered that fungi don’t just grow slower under stress—they reorganize how densely they pack their filaments. This geomatics approach revealed that different stresses cause different patterns of network densification, providing new insights into fungal survival strategies.