Electrical experiments with plants that count and communicate

Daniel Chamovitz’s book is a sensory exploration of plants which presents the history and modern state of plant sciences in an engaging and accessible form. Do plants see? Smell? Hear? Remember? Are plants aware? Chamovitz balances his provocative speculations with historical scientific accounts and contemporary scientific research, which together serve to amaze readers by revealing the true nature of plants. This text inspired our own interest in plant physiology and behavior, and we recommend it to anyone who seeks to learn more about plant behavior.

Don’t believe it? Interested in doing these experiments for yourself? The Plant SpikerBox is the tool which Greg Gage uses in the talk to record, visualize, and communicate between plants. It’s a powerful, but affordable, alternative to high-cost electrophysiology equipment. The device was developed to create opportunities for students, teachers, and passionate amateurs to perform real electrophysiology experiments at home or in the classroom. By enabling aspiring scientists to perform real, hands-on experiments, Greg and his team at Backyard Brains hope to inspire a new generation of STEM professionals.