LOOK WHO’S TALKING

An issue of Nautilus, a popular science magazine, explored the idea that plants, including trees could communicate with each other. The plants and trees could “talk” to each other through chemical codes to help defend against threats like insects. Nautilus goes on to say that it is possible for the plants to summon predators to feed on insect invaders. Researchers are intent of discovering more about the communication as it will help understand how plants react to changes in their environment and climate change. The chemical codes plants speak in are carbon-containing molecules called volatile organic compounds. Some of these compounds produce the noted scent of plants while other compounds are only emitted in a response to threats or damage. While all the workings of the codes are not yet understood, the more researchers figure out, the further we move in to deciphering the whole ecosystem.