Can plants communicate? Cool experiments that show us how

Studying the electrical way plants "talk." Open in your browser

This week on TED.com October 14, 2017

Talk of the week Greg Gage: Electrical experiments with plants that count and communicate 09:30 minutes · Filmed Apr 2017 · Posted Oct 2017 · TED2017 Greg Gage uses sophisticated neuroscience equipment out of the grad-level labs and brings them to middle- and high-school classrooms -- and now, to the TED stage! Prepare to be amazed as he hooks up plants to an EKG -- including the Mimosa pudica, a plant whose leaves close when touched, and the Venus flytrap -- to show us how plants use electrical signals to convey information, prompt movement and even count. Watch now »

Playlist of the week The most actionable TED Talks TED Talks for when you want to get up and act -- now. Watch » 12 TED Talks • Total run time 2:35:20

This week's new TED Talks The zoetrope was a popular 19th-century device that created the illusion of motion long before the arrival of the motion picture. In this vibrant talk, artist Eric Dyer showcases his modern reinventions of this old-time form, in huge spinning sculptures that evoke beautiful, dreamlike scenes. (Warning: This talk includes flashing images and lights. Those who are photosensitive or have seizures trigged by strobes are advised to avoid.) Watch » We've all heard that robots are going to take our jobs -- but what can we do after they do? David Lee suggests that we can start designing jobs that unlock our hidden talents and passions -- the things we spend our weekends doing -- to keep humans relevant. "Start asking people what problems they're inspired to solve and what talents they want to bring to work," Lee says. "When you invite people to be more, they can amaze us with how much more they can be." Watch » Are screens ruining modern childhood? Not according to children's media expert Sara DeWitt. In a talk that may make you feel a bit less guilty about handing a tablet to a child while you make dinner, DeWitt envisions a future where we're excited to see kids interacting with their screens and tablets -- and shows us some exciting ways that new technologies can help kids grow, connect and learn. Watch » What is the most powerful response to authoritarianism? Beloved novelist Elif Shafak suggests that it's complexity, pluralism, diversity. In this passionate, personal talk, she reminds us that there are no simple binaries, in politics, emotions and our own self-identities. In a world that demands simplistic answers, she says, "One should never, ever remain silent for fear of complexity." Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com Work: Want to quit your job? Read this first >> Brilliant advice for the dissatisfied from Simon Sinek We humans: The dark side of charismatic leaders >> Charisma is a powerful force -- but we should understand why Science: These tiny Antarctica plants have superhero powers >> Ancient plants that make their own sunscreen and antifreeze

Quote of the Week “ Wherever I look, I see nuances withering away. On TV shows, we have one anti-something speaker situated against a pro-something speaker. Yeah? It's good ratings. It's even better if they shout at each other. Even in academia, where our intellect is supposed to be nourished, you see one atheist scholar competing with a firmly theist scholar, but it's not a real intellectual exchange, because it's a clash between two certainties. Slowly and systematically, we are being denied the right to be complex." Elif Shafak The revolutionary power of diverse thought

TED Radio Hour: Manipulation We think we're the ones who control what we see, read, think -- and remember. But is that true? Who decides? And who should decide? This hour, TED speakers Tristan Harris, Ali Velshi, Elizabeth Loftus and Steve Ramirez reveal how easily we can be manipulated. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, the TED Android app, or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

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