Plants muster defenses when they "hear" an attack

Credit: William Vann/EduPic Graphical Resource

For some time, it has been known that when a plant is being eaten by a herbivore, it starts producing chemicals which taste bad &/or are poisonous to the herbivore. Pheromones released simultaneously, signal nearby plants which also begin producing the same chemicals.

Now it has been discovered that, at least some plants are able to detect, & react to, the specific vibrations typical of the sounds produced by caterpillars feeding.



http://www.cnet.com/au/news/plants-muster-defenses-when-they-hear-an-attack/ / mechanisms University of Missouri MU research researchers scientist biologists botanist discovered defense mechanisms triggered plants sense vibrations caterpillars leaves Heidi Appel senior research scientist Rex Cocroft professor Division of Biological Sciences plant Arabidopsis cabbage mustard recorded sound insects munching laser microphone divided plants sound munching silence researchers heard sounds caterpillars munching leaves produced mustard oils compound toxic caterpillars attack hearing sounds chemical defense crawling away enhance plant defense defence agriculture plant behavior responses outside influences animals look different studies showed plants difference between vibrations wind acoustic features caterpillar feeding vibrations mustard oils specific sound of caterpillar munching was played plants respond to acoustic energ, including music ecologically relevant vibration how plants sense vibrations marauding insects mystery to the scientists /

Huey the colour copying chameleon lamp

Credit: ThinkGeek

As you can see in the animated GIF above, sit Huey on a blue background & he turns blue. On green, he turns — green. Other colours too.



Available from ThinkGeek & Vat19.com/ Huey electronic glowing chameleon lamp dynamically matches color of whatever he sits on down on top match matches color glowing skin paint painted your room squeeze hold the color brown nightstand color cycle mode change from color to color reassuring squeeze Huey the Color Copying Chameleon Lamp lights light surface underneath him two hidden white LEDs sophisticated optical sensor determine the correct color matches color by adjusting the shade numerous multi-color LED's imbedded in his body color sensing technology scientific measuring devices measurement power adapter dynamically matches match color color cycle mode squeeze soft vinyl construction great desk accessory nightlight
Powered by AC adapter 3 AAA batteries /