Plants make sounds

A few years ago, researchers discovered that some plants make sounds, especially when they are stressed or just got injured. The sounds are emitted at frequencies higher than humans can hear. Ultrasonic microphones pick up the sounds and a computer can reproduce the sound at frequencies that humans can hear. 

Scientists recorded sounds produced by tomato and tobacco plants raised in greenhouses. Healthy plants emitted clicks and pops but the sounds came in far more rapid bursts when the plants were deprived of water or had their stems cut. The tomatoes in the video are stressed and make staccato popping sounds in short bursts.




Researchers are learning what conditions lead to what sound patterns. They are also starting to learn what sounds are made by individual plant species. It's not clear if plants can hear each other, but some insects are believed to probably be able to hear plants that are emitting sounds.



By Germaine: The Shrubber (one who sells shrubbery)

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