March 13, 2018

Music for the Space Age Houseplant

1970 called—it wants its plant playlist back

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me with great feedback on my recent Radiolab spot, and apologies for the blog blackout over the last three weeks. I've been traveling in New Zealand, which some provided some good material that you will see here soon.

One of the people who wrote to me was science writer Kate Ruder, who said the episode jogged her memory regarding this ground-breaking album she inherited from her mother-in-law.

As many people have pointed out, the idea that plants respond to light, sound, and touch is not a new one.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Take a minute to bask in the awesome. Dr. George Milstein, by the way, was apparently a retired dentist.

If the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission funded it, it must be legit, right?

Even more awesome are the hipster-tastic tracks from the album I've managed to dig up here (source) and here. Although the plant-friendly sounds are supposedly only embedded within the music, what you hear here obviously says a lot more about the humans of 1970 than the plants. I'm pretty sure you can hear the sounds intended for the plants bleed through if you listen carefully -- they sound a bit like the tones played during a hearing test.

Some Radiolab listeners seem to have been bothered by the use of the words "hear" or "learn" regarding plants. My feeling is that if the experiments detailed in the episode are indeed replicated, plants probably don't accomplish or experience these feats the same way we do. But if the end result is the same -- well, I'm perfectly willing to calling a spade a spade. My home assistant Alexa hears me in a very different way than I hear her, and she experiences that process in a very different way. Does that mean she can't hear?

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American