To humans, plants often seem to grow quietly and unnoticed. However, since the 1970s, scientists have gradually discovered that plants emit sounds, sparking curiosity about their 'language.'
In the 1970s, an Australian scientist found that when plants experience severe drought, they produce a 'clicking' sound. This noise is actually caused by tiny vibrations in their water transport systems. Although scientists at the time could not confirm whether these sounds were intentional, it piqued interest in the concept of plant 'language.'
Subsequently, British scientist Mitchell further investigated this phenomenon, but was unable to provide more evidence that plants indeed possess a language. Nevertheless, research into plant sounds continued to thrive, with scientists eager to explore the meanings behind these sounds.
In 1980, American scientist Kingsley and his team installed remote sensing equipment in a drought-stricken canyon to listen for electrical signals emitted by plants. They discovered that during photosynthesis, plants emit a specific signal, helping us understand each stage of plant growth better.
In 1983, two American scientists announced that the sounds made by plants could represent chemical signals, warning nearby trees when they are attacked by pests.
Recently, British scientist Rod and Japanese scientist Kenzo Iwao designed a device called the 'Plant Active Translator,' which can directly capture and analyze the sounds of plants. Through this machine, they found that plant sounds vary with environmental changes and can even convey distress when exposed to strong light, drought, or wind damage.
