Trees Anticipate Solar Eclipse by Synchronizing Their Electrical Signals
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📰 The quick summary: Trees in an Italian forest synchronized their bioelectrical signals hours before a solar eclipse, revealing sophisticated communication and sensing abilities that suggest forests function as interconnected living collectives.
📈 One key stat: The electrical activity of all three studied trees became significantly more synchronized both before and during the one-hour solar eclipse, demonstrating forest-wide coordination that extends beyond individual plant responses.
💬 One key quote: “The spruce trees not only responded to the solar eclipse – they actively anticipated it, by synchronising their bioelectrical signals hours in advance.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists have discovered that trees can synchronize their electrical signals in anticipation of a solar eclipse. During research in Italy’s Dolomites region, a team monitored the bioelectrical impulses of spruce trees when a solar eclipse passed over. The trees not only responded to the event but actively anticipated it by synchronizing their signals hours before it occurred. This remarkable finding reveals a forest-wide phenomenon that adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of plant behavior. The research suggests that trees communicate with each other as a living collective, with older trees potentially transmitting ecological knowledge to younger ones.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This discovery fundamentally changes how we perceive forests, revealing them as sophisticated, interconnected communities rather than collections of independent organisms. The study shows trees have advanced sensing and communication abilities previously unrecognized, allowing them to anticipate and respond collectively to environmental changes. Older trees appear to serve as knowledge banks, potentially transmitting valuable ecological information to younger trees to help the entire forest adapt. These findings highlight why protecting mature forests is crucial – they preserve accumulated ecological wisdom that enhances ecosystem resilience and helps forests cope with unpredictable changes in their environment.
3️⃣ What’s next: The research team’s findings will be featured in an upcoming documentary called “The Forest Code,” premiering in Italy on May 1st, 2025. Scientists will likely continue investigating how this tree communication network functions across different forest types and environmental conditions. Future research may also explore how these bioelectrical connections influence forests’ ability to adapt to climate change and other environmental stressors.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – ‘A living collective’: study shows trees synchronise electrical signals during a solar eclipse
