Main content

Have We Underestimated Plants?

Plants are far more sophisticated than we think. They can respond to more than a dozen different stimuli, communicate with each other and even make complex 鈥榙ecisions.鈥�

New research suggests plants might be capable of more than many of us might expect. Some 鈥� controversially 鈥� even describe plants as 鈥渋ntelligent鈥�, or even 鈥渟entient鈥�. So, this week, we鈥檙e asking: have we underestimated plants? Our expert witnesses include an academic studying how networks of trees communicate through what she describes as a 鈥渨ood wide web鈥�, and the pioneer who is using plants to develop robotics.

(Photo: US-Fall-Shenandoah, Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Tue 17 Nov 2015 21:06GMT
91热爆 World Service Australasia, South Asia, East Asia & West and Central Africa only

More episodes

Previous

Is it too Late to Save Syria鈥檚 Antiquities?

Next

Can 鈥業slamic State鈥� Be Defeated?

See all episodes from The Inquiry

Broadcasts

  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 02:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 03:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Online, East Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 04:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service South Asia
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 05:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Australasia
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 07:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service East and Southern Africa
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 13:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 14:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service except Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia & UK DAB/Freeview
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 20:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Americas and the Caribbean, Online, UK DAB/Freeview & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Tue 17 Nov 2015 21:06GMT
    91热爆 World Service Australasia, South Asia, East Asia & West and Central Africa only

Podcast

  • The Inquiry

    Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world