Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
scienceJan 5, 202559:34pending

Ultra HEARING For Everyone

What The If?

About this episode

Your houseplants might be screaming right now, but you'd never know it (unless you're a moth). Scientists discovered that stressed and dehydrated plants emit ultrasonic clicks that moths can hear and use to choose where to lay their eggs - like tiny vegetative Yelp reviews. But what if humans could also tune into this botanical broadcasting network? From coffee shops filled with complaining houseplants to ultrasonic opera singers hitting notes that would make dogs cover their ears, explore a world where humans can hear the full spectrum of sound. And yes, your dying Christmas tree is probably making more noise than your neighbor's teenage garage band. Based on the article "When They Hear Plants Crying, Moths Make a Decision" by Gennaro Tomma, from the New York Times Science section at https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/science/moths-hearing-plant-sounds.html --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

Get every episode summarized

Each time What The If? publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

Ultra HEARING For Everyone

What The If?

0:00
59:34

More episodes

More from What The If?

View all episodes →