What's happening?

Laura Beloff was at her desk when the clicking began. 

She had linked a plant in her room to a microphone. It fed into a speaker that played a high-pitched sound. Now, it was making a noise. It seemed as though the plant was trying to talk. 

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Laura is not the only person listening to plants. 

Monica Gagliano once had a dream about a tree that called her to Peru. In the dream, she met a fern that taught her a word. Oryngham means thank you in plant language. Now, Monica talks to plants regularly. 

Some people might laugh at Laura and Monica. But they are both experts. And now, more scientists agree.

Many wondrous things are true in nature. Animals have their own languages. Ravens haggle over food. Prairie dogs use nouns, verbs and adjectives. Alston's singing mice perform duets. This year, scientists found spinach could send emails warning about bad weather.

There is no proof yet that plants can talk in a way humans could understand. But we know they can send signals through their roots. Whole forests are joined together by the Wood Wide Web. 

Some say 

Yes! Plants are wonderful things. They can react to our touch. They can recognise family members. Some can trap flies. Others can call wasps to attack caterpillars eating their leaves. We know they can communicate with each other. Why not us? 

Others think 

No, this is crazy! Plants have amazing abilities. But to claim they can talk is wishful thinking. We have to understand the difference between science and science fiction!