A study from the University of Missouri demonstrated that plants like Arabidopsis thaliana can detect the specific sound frequencies of a caterpillar chewing on their leaves. 🔊 How Plants “Hear”: They don’t have ears, but plants have mechanoreceptors that detect vibrations. When exposed to playback of chewing sounds, the plants boosted their production of defensive chemicals—notably mustard oils, which repel pests. 🧪 What They Ignored: The plants didn’t react to other vibrations like wind or music—only the unique sound of leaf-chewing triggered the defense response. 🌾 Agricultural Implications: This could revolutionize farming. By using specific sound frequencies, crops might be prepped to defend themselves naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides