ISRAEL: A recent study by researchers at Tel Aviv University has discovered that plants emit sounds that are beyond the hearing range of humans, especially when they are stressed. These sounds, which resemble popping popcorn, are emitted at high frequencies between 40-80 kilohertz, which is beyond the maximum frequency detected by human adults of around 16 kilohertz.
The research team listened to the ultrasonic sounds that tomato and tobacco plants made in a greenhouse and an acoustic chamber. They also took notes on the plants’ physiological traits. Before the recordings were made, the plants were put through a variety of situations, such as being dehydrated, injured, or left alone.
Researchers used ultrasonic microphones to record the sounds the plants made and then used AI to analyse them. This allowed them to differentiate between different types of sounds and plants, and ultimately to identify the type and level of stress that the plant was experiencing.
The study revealed that unstressed plants emitted less than one sound per hour, while stressed plants emitted dozens of sounds every hour. The team was able to figure out that these sounds contain information about the plant’s health, like if it needs more water or is hurt.
According to Professor Lilach Hadany of the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences’ School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, “Our findings show that the world around us is replete with plant noises and that these sounds hold information.”
This finding has important ramifications for the study of plants and agriculture since it may improve our knowledge of how to take care of plants under various environmental circumstances.
This groundbreaking study has resolved an old scientific controversy by demonstrating that plants do indeed emit sounds, and it raises fascinating philosophical questions about communication and consciousness in the natural world.
The fact that plants have a voice, albeit one beyond our hearing, may change the way we think about and interact with the natural world around us.
Also Read: Scientists Discover “Substantial Quantities” of Water Trapped in Beads on Moon Surface
