Researchers from Tel Aviv University conducted a detailed study on how plants emit sounds when they are under stress. The findings were published in a prestigious science journal, highlighting a new dimension in plant biology that connects physiology with acoustic signals. The researchers explored whether vibrations detected by devices attached to plants could be transformed into audible or recordable signals that travel beyond the plant itself, potentially enabling remote monitoring of plant health.
Earlier work showed that vibrometers attached to living plants detect a range of vibrations. Yet the question remained whether those vibrations could be converted into sounds that sensors away from the plant could pick up. The new research addressed this gap by placing plants inside an acoustically controlled chamber free from background noise. Ultrasonic microphones were positioned at a close distance from each plant to capture sounds in a spectrum far above human hearing, specifically in the range of 20 to 250 kilohertz. In this high-frequency window, the researchers could probe the acoustic activity produced by stressed plant tissues without interference from ambient noise.
The experimental design subjected plants to distinct forms of stress to provoke measurable acoustic responses. Some plants were deprived of water for several days, while others experienced physical damage by cutting their stems. What the team observed was a clear uptick in acoustic events as stress levels increased. Non-stressed plants produced an average of fewer than one sound per hour, whereas dehydrated and damaged plants produced dozens of sounds in the same time frame. The emitted noises clustered mainly in the 40 to 80 kilohertz range, a band well outside human hearing but within the detection capabilities of specialized sensors. This pattern suggests that stress-induced acoustic activity is not only real but quantifiable and potentially diagnostic in nature.
Interestingly, the team described certain sound patterns that resembled rapid popping, akin to popcorn popping but at frequencies far above human perception. The researchers speculate that such sounds could originate from physical processes inside the plant, possibly the formation and bursting of oxygen bubbles within tissues, though the exact mechanisms remain to be fully understood. This hints at a relation between internal physical changes under stress and the acoustic signals that can be recorded at a distance, a relationship that could unlock new ways to monitor plant well-being remotely without touching the plant itself.
To interpret the data, the investigators turned to machine learning and artificial intelligence. The recorded audio streams were analyzed by AI models designed to classify different plant species and to differentiate among the various types of stress-induced noises. Over time, these algorithms learned to identify each plant and infer the likely stress condition from the acoustic signature. While the study focused primarily on tomatoes and tobacco, the research also cataloged noises from other crops and organisms, including wheat, corn, cactus, and even insects associated with the plants. The breadth of species included suggests a broader applicability of acoustic monitoring in agriculture, where precise, noninvasive alerts could help farmers optimize irrigation, pruning, and pest management in real time.
The implications of this work extend beyond basic science. If these acoustic signals can be reliably linked to specific stressors, it may be possible to develop dedicated sensor systems that monitor plant health across fields or greenhouse environments. Such sensors could operate without direct plant contact, continuously collecting data and alerting growers to early signs of water stress, mechanical damage, or disease. In practical terms, acoustic monitoring could complement existing plant health tools, offering an additional layer of information that helps preserve yields, improve resource use, and support sustainable farming practices. The researchers emphasize that translating laboratory findings into robust field applications will require further work to account for environmental noise, variable plant growth stages, and crop diversity, yet the foundational evidence points toward a promising new pathway for plant science and agricultural technology.