Chinese cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is a precious medicinal fungus found on the Tibetan Plateau that has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Researchers studied the fungi living in soil around wild cordyceps and found that the types and amounts of these soil fungi are connected to how much medicinal compounds accumulate in the cordyceps. Samples from certain regions like Yushu had more diverse soil fungi and higher levels of beneficial compounds called nucleosides. This suggests that managing soil fungi could help improve the quality of cordyceps grown in cultivation.