Lab Notes: Plants can hear you episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 3, 2026 · 10 MIN

Lab Notes: Plants can hear you

from The Science Show · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Plants are more aware of their surroundings then we give them credit for. A growing body of work is showing that plants can change themselves in response to different sounds.Dr Samarth Kulshrestha, a molecular biologist from the University of Canterbury, is one of these researchers, looking at the mechanisms behind plant senses. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: [email protected]:Dr Kulshrestha, University of Canterbury Further information:The secret sensory life of plants: researchers are discovering how they see, hear, feel – and even rememberPlants respond to leaf vibrations caused by insect herbivore chewingTuned in: plant roots use sound to locate waterThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.

Plants are more aware of their surroundings then we give them credit for. A growing body of work is showing that plants can change themselves in response to different sounds. Dr Samarth Kulshrestha, a molecular biologist from the University of Canterbury, is one of these researchers, looking at the mechanisms behind plant senses.  You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: [email protected] Featuring: Dr Kulshrestha, University of Canterbury  Further information: The secret sensory life of plants: researchers are discovering how they see, hear, feel – and even remember Plants respond to leaf vibrations caused by insect herbivore chewing Tuned in: plant roots use sound to locate water This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.

NOW PLAYING

Lab Notes: Plants can hear you

0:00 10:49

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Science Show?

This episode is 10 minutes long.

When was this The Science Show episode published?

This episode was published on June 3, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Plants are more aware of their surroundings then we give them credit for. A growing body of work is showing that plants can change themselves in response to different sounds.Dr Samarth Kulshrestha, a molecular biologist from the University of...

Can I download this The Science Show episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!