Plants Emit ‘Screaming’ Sounds When Stressed, Study Reveals

New research led by evolutionary biologist Lilach Hadany at Tel Aviv University has discovered that plants, such as tomatoes and tobacco, emit sounds resembling pops or clicks when stressed, particularly during dehydration or when cut, Earth.com reported yesterday.

Using sensitive microphones, the team recorded these sounds, which occur at frequencies too high for humans to hear but could be audible to insects and other animals.

Stressed plants produced 30 to 50 clicks per hour, with water-deprived plants making noises even before visible signs of stress appeared. The study indicates that sound emission may be a common trait among various plant species, including corn and wheat.

The exact cause of these sounds is still under investigation, but one theory suggests they result from cavitation in the plant’s vascular system. This groundbreaking finding could revolutionize agriculture, allowing farmers to monitor crop hydration and stress levels through sound, enhancing water efficiency. The full study is published in the journal Cell.