A recent study has revealed that plants emit sounds similar to “screams” when they experience stress. These noises, often in the form of high-pitched clicking, are inaudible to humans without specialized equipment.
Lilach Hadany, an evolutionary biologist at Tel Aviv University, explained that even in quiet environments, plants are making sounds that we can’t hear. “These sounds carry important information,” she said. “Some animals can detect these noises, suggesting that plants may be engaged in acoustic interactions with their environment.”
The study shows that stressed plants generate sharp, popping noises, while healthy plants remain silent. However, the exact mechanism behind these sounds remains unclear.
Hadany added, “Now that we know plants do produce sounds, the next question is, ‘who is listening?’ We’re studying how other organisms, both animals and plants, respond to these sounds, and working to understand how to detect and interpret them in natural settings.”
This discovery follows a separate study which suggests that modern Western diets, low in fiber, are altering how humans digest plant material like cellulose found in fruits and vegetables.
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