A new study is upsetting many vegans and vegetarians as it shows that plants make sounds when dying. For the first time, researchers have discovered that plants are able to hear or smell; however these airborne vibrations could open up a new field in precision agriculture where farmers listen for water starved crops.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that tomato and tobacco plants make sounds when stressed by a lack of water or their stem is cut. These are sounds humans cannot hear, but the vibrations can be felt on nearby leaves.

When water is lacking the tomatoes and tobacco plants emit sounds that are inaudible to humans. This was discovered by Itzhak Khait of Tel Aviv University when he noticed his tomato plant made noises during its daily cycle of wilting on hot days, then reviving at nightfall.

View the full article at greenlivingtribe.com