For the first time in the world, researchers from Tel Aviv University have clearly recorded and analyzed the sounds emitted by plants
Do you speak to plants? You may not be able to hear it, but your plants may be chatting too (perhaps they’re not such great listeners after all). again? ). For the first time in the world, TAU researchers have recorded and analyzed the distinct sounds produced by plants. A popping popcorn-like click is emitted at a volume similar to human speech, but at a higher frequency than the human ear can hear. “Plants typically make sounds when they are under stress, and have found that each plant and each type of stress is associated with a specific, identifiable sound,” the researchers wrote. It’s inaudible to humans, but it can be heard by many different animals, including bats, mice, and insects.”
“Previous studies have shown that vibrometers attached to plants record vibrations, but are these vibrations also airborne sound waves that can be recorded from a distance? Our study addresses this question that researchers have debated for years.” Professor Lilac Hadanyi
resolving old scientific controversies
The research was led by Professor Lilach Hadany, Department of Plant Science and Food Security, George S. Wise School of Life Sciences, and Professor Yossi Yovel, Principal and faculty member of the Sagol School of Neuroscience. Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, research students Itzhak Haidt and Ohad Lewin-Epstein collaborate with researchers from the Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Mathematical Sciences, the Grain Institute, and the Sagor School of Neuroscience. going. at Tel Aviv University. This paper was published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell.
“Previous research shows that vibrometers attached to plants record vibrations,” says Professor Hadany. “But do these vibrations also become sound waves in the air, making them sounds that can be recorded from a distance? Our study addresses a question that researchers have debated for years.”
Watch: Findings by Prof. Yossi Yovel and Prof. Lilach Hadany
In the first phase of the study, researchers placed the plants in an acoustic box in a quiet, isolated basement room with no background noise. An ultrasonic microphone recording sound at 16 kHz) was placed at a distance of approximately 10 cm from each plant. The study focused primarily on tomatoes and tobacco, but wheat, corn, cacti, and henbit were also recorded.
“Our findings suggest that the world around us is full of plant sounds, and that these sounds carry information such as water shortages, injuries (…) sensors, etc. We believe that with the right tools, humans can also use this information to inform growers when their plants need to be watered.” – Professor Lilac Hadani
Mapping plant complaints with AI
Before placing the plants in the acoustic box, the researchers subjected the plants to various treatments, including those that had not been watered for five days, those that had their stems cut, and those that had not been touched. , explained that it was intended to test whether plants emit sounds and whether these sounds are influenced in any way by plant conditions. The unstressed plants, on average, made less than one sound per hour, while the stressed plants (both dehydrated and damaged) produced less than one sound per hour. It made dozens of sounds. ”
Recordings collected in this way were analyzed by a specially developed machine learning (AI) algorithm. The algorithm learned how to distinguish between different plants and different types of sounds, eventually being able to identify the plants and determine the type and level of stress from the recordings. Additionally, the algorithm identified and classified plant sounds even when the plants were placed in a greenhouse with a lot of background noise.
The research team observed dehydrated plants in a greenhouse and found that the amount of sound produced by the plants increased to a certain peak and then decreased.
“In this study, we have settled a very old scientific controversy. We have proven that plants can make sounds!” says Professor Hadany. “Our findings suggest that the world around us is full of plant sounds, and that these sounds contain information such as water shortages and injuries. We hypothesize that the sounds emitted by are detected by nearby creatures such as bats, rodents, various insects, and possibly other plants, and that they can hear the high frequencies and derive relevant information. We believe that humans can also make use of this information, given the right tools, such as sensors, to tell growers when they need it.Apparently, an idyllic flower garden can be a pretty noisy place. I just can’t hear it.”
In future studies, researchers will continue to explore a series of interesting questions, including: What are the mechanisms behind plant sounds? How do moths perceive and respond to plant sounds? Do other plants hear these sounds too? Stay tuned.
Original: Plants make sounds – especially when stressed
Than: Tel Aviv University
