starring Dr. Hal !
THE SOUND MACHINE
December 27, 2019 10:00pm
IN THE FAMOUS STORY by Roald Dahl, an inventor's listening device can hear infinitely high and low sonic vibrations and transpose them into an audible key. The user of the mechanism hears roses cry out when cut, and other infra-sounds... Recently, using a laser-powered microphone, researchers actually have picked up sound waves produced by plants when cut or injured. Although not audible to the human ear, as in the story, the secret voices of plants have revealed that cucumbers scream when they are sick, and flowers do whine when their leaves are cut.
There's also disturbing evidence that plants can hear themselves being eaten. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that plants understand and respond to chewing sounds made by caterpillars that are dining on them. As soon as the plants hear the noises, they respond with several defense mechanisms.
For some researchers, evidence of these complex communication systems -- emitting noises when in distress -- signals that plants feel pain. Others argue that there cannot be pain without a brain to register the feeling. Still more scientists surmise that plants can exhibit intelligent behavior without possessing a brain or conscious awareness. Pedantry, Prophecy, Poetry...
There's also disturbing evidence that plants can hear themselves being eaten. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that plants understand and respond to chewing sounds made by caterpillars that are dining on them. As soon as the plants hear the noises, they respond with several defense mechanisms.
For some researchers, evidence of these complex communication systems -- emitting noises when in distress -- signals that plants feel pain. Others argue that there cannot be pain without a brain to register the feeling. Still more scientists surmise that plants can exhibit intelligent behavior without possessing a brain or conscious awareness. Pedantry, Prophecy, Poetry...