Why It Matters | Plants emit ultrasonic sounds when distressed

Plants can emit sounds that are beyond the hearing range of humans. These sounds can provide information, particularly when they are stressed or injured. 

What are the facts? Plants can emit sounds that are beyond the hearing range of humans, new research has shown. These sounds, recorded and analysed by researchers at Tel Aviv University, can provide a plethora of information, particularly when it is stressed or injured. The ultrasonic sound recorded by the researchers is a click-like sound (like the popping of popcorn) at a volume similar to human speech but at much higher frequencies of 40-80 kilohertz. The study, published in the journal Cell, also noted that unstressed plants emitted less than one sound per hour, however, stressed or injured plants emitted at least a dozen of sounds every hour.

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