Recent research has unveiled a startling aspect of plant behavior: when subjected to stress, plants emit ultrasonic sounds that resemble screams, albeit not within the range of human hearing. The study suggests that these sounds could be a form of communication or distress signal.
In a study conducted in 2023 and published in the scientific journal Cell, scientists found that plants not only perceive sound but also produce it. Professor Lilach Hadany, from Tel Aviv University, has voiced the notion that the sounds emanating from a quiet field, which go undetected by human ears, could potentially be perceived by other animals, indicating an unrecognized world of acoustic communication in nature.
The behavior of plants under duress, such as the release of potent smells or changes in physical appearance, is better understood as a means of signaling to other organisms. This new study extends that knowledge to the auditory domain, showing that stressed plants can produce popping or clicking sounds.
Using a sensitive recording setup within a soundproof chamber and in normal greenhouse conditions, researchers captured the sounds made by tomato and tobacco plants under various states: well-hydrated, dehydrated, and with cut stems. These sounds were then analyzed and categorized by a machine learning algorithm.
The study’s findings indicate that not just tomato and tobacco, but various plant species emit noises. Yet, many questions remain unanswered, such as the actual mechanics behind the sound production and whether other forms of distress trigger a similar response.
The researchers contemplate the evolutionary implications, speculate about which organisms might be responding to these sounds, and plan to investigate the broader ecological context. The potential applications of this discovery are highlighted, extending even to possible agricultural practices where human caretakers could listen in on the needs of their crops.
With the publication in Cell, this research illuminates a previously obscure aspect of plant life, promising fascinating developments in our understanding of plant biology and ecology.
An earlier version of this article was published in March 2023.
FAQs: Plant Acoustic Emissions and Responses
Q: Do plants really make sounds?
A: Yes, according to recent research, plants emit popping or clicking noises especially when stressed, such as when dehydrated or physically harmed.
Q: Can humans hear the sounds that plants make?
A: No, the sounds are in ultrasonic frequencies, which are outside the range of human hearing.
Q: What could be the purpose of these sounds?
A: It’s hypothesized that these sounds may serve as communication signals to other plants or animals, possibly alerting them to the plant’s distress.
Q: How were the plant sounds detected?
A: Researchers used sensitive recording equipment in a soundproof chamber and employed a machine learning algorithm to analyze and classify the sounds.
Q: Could this research affect how we care for plants?
A: Yes, understanding plant acoustic emissions could lead to new agricultural practices, such as monitoring crops for stress signals and providing water or care before visible signs of distress appear.
Conclusion
The discovery that plants emit ultrasonic sounds in response to stress is a groundbreaking advance in our understanding of plant behavior and communication. This research opens up a fascinating new dimension in the study of plant biology and ecology, holding the promise of both theoretical and practical applications. As the field of plant acoustics grows, we may find ourselves tuning in more closely to the silent symphony of the plant kingdom and its mysterious ways of conveying distress and resilience.