This episode of Radiolab delves into the unexpected intelligence of plants, challenging the notion that they are mere passive life forms. It highlights three fascinating experiments by plant biologist Monica Gagliano. The first experiment demonstrates how plants can find water sources. The second reveals their ability to learn and remember through a drop-test involving Mimosa pudica plants. Lastly, the third experiment showcases the potential for Pavlovian conditioning with pea plants when exposed to a fan and light stimulus. Gagliano's work suggests that plants have complex sensory and cognitive skills that might change our understanding of intelligence in nature. The episode wraps up by addressing the controversy surrounding her findings and the ongoing debate over whether we should attribute human-like qualities to plant behavior.
