Why plants wiggle, according to CU Boulder researchers
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Though they seem stationary to the naked eye, local researchers have unveiled just how much plants actually move — and why.
Why it matters: The findings, published this month in the journal Physical Review X, highlight surprising parallels between plant movements and animal social behaviors.
What they did: Teams of physicists at CU Boulder and Tel Aviv University examined sunflowers, which spin in circles, twist into corkscrews and wiggle around — albeit very slowly — as they grow.
What they found: Through greenhouse experiments and computer simulations, researchers determined plants have evolved to detect their neighbors, avoid shade and find patches of sunlight.
- They do so using a wide range of movements and speeds to explore their surroundings, something seen in animals.
The big picture: It's the first time scientists have reported such broadly varied plant movements and their role in helping plants navigate their surroundings efficiently.
What they're saying: "Our team does a lot of work on social interactions in insect swarms and other groups of animals," the study's lead author Chantal Nguyen said in a statement.
- "But this research is particularly exciting because we're seeing similar dynamics in plants. They're rooted to the ground."
The intrigue: Scientists say their findings could help farmers develop new strategies for growing various crops in more efficient arrangements.
What's next: Researchers plan to do more experiments to test out how sunflowers grow in more complicated arrangements.