[Can Plants Scream? The Science of Plant Communication]-[Screaming Plants (5/22/23)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2023-05-22

📋 Summary

The Secret Language of Flora

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore a fascinating scientific discovery: plants are not as silent as we once thought. While humans perceive plants as passive decorations, recent peer-reviewed research published in the scientific journal Cell by biologists at Tel Aviv University suggests that plants possess a sophisticated way of expressing stress and discomfort.

The "Screaming" Mechanism: Cavitation

Through a series of experiments, researchers placed various plants—including tomato plants, wheat, and cacti—into soundproof boxes equipped with high-sensitivity microphones. They discovered that when plants were neglected (dehydrated) or physically damaged (cut), they produced distinct, high-pitched "pops and clicks."

This phenomenon is known as cavitation. Inside a plant's vascular system, tiny pipes transport water and nutrients. When these pipes experience pressure changes, air bubbles form, grow, and eventually pop. These microscopic explosions generate shockwaves that result in an audible, high-frequency sound. While these sounds are too high-pitched for the human ear to detect without technological assistance, they are potentially audible to other organisms in nature, such as mice or moths.

Experimental Methodology

The scientists categorized the plants into three groups to test their hypothesis:

Happy Plants: Well-watered and receiving adequate sunlight. These plants remained mostly quiet.
Neglected Plants: Deprived of water and light.
Damaged Plants: Subjected to being "mercilessly chopped off at the roots."

The researchers utilized a computer program to analyze these sounds, which proved successful in identifying the state of the plant approximately 70% of the time. This suggests that plants have a reactive, audible way of signaling their environmental needs.

Implications for the Future

The hosts humorously bridge the gap between scientific theory and everyday gardening. By debunking the myth that plants are unresponsive, the episode highlights the potential for this research to aid farmers and plant growers. If we can "listen" to our plants' needs before they wither, we can provide better care. As Mindy notes, this discovery reveals that plant lives are far more "sophisticated than we might have thought."

Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to treat their green companions with more empathy, jokingly suggesting that we should "turn over a new leaf" in how we interact with our gardens. Whether it is a prize-winning tomato plant or a struggling cactus, the science indicates that nature has its own secret language, and for the first time, humans are beginning to decode it.

🎯Key Sentences

I gotta let you know that

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

Talk about a core memory in the making.

Don't listen to a word that tomato plant says.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

come face-to-face with

in the making

be my guest

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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.

Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.

And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,

And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.

Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

Or study on the web version →