The Cry of Plants in Distress

The study showed that when plants are in stress, such as when they lack water, they emit distinct, ultrasonic sounds.

• Interestingly, this isn't the first time we've encountered the concept of plants' sensitivity. Over a century ago, the renowned Indian scientist JC Bose proposed that plants experience sensations akin to pleasure and pain, similar to animals.

Who was Jagadish Chandra Bose?

• Bose, who lived from 1858 to 1937, was the first Indian to leave a significant mark on modern science, predating the contributions of other Indian luminaries like Srinivasa Ramanujan, C V Raman, and Satyendra Nath Bose .
• Initially a physicist, Bose later turned to biology, making significant contributions in both fields.
• Bose's work has left a lasting impact in several areas.

• • His research on wireless signal transmission
  • His studies on plant physiology
  • His early contributions to solid-state physics

• Nobel laureate Sir Neville Mott reportedly stated that Bose was ahead of his time, having anticipated the concepts of p-type and n-type semiconductors.
• Bose's extensive research on microwaves led him to become the first scientist to generate signals in the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Bose's scholarly contributions include 12 papers on radio waves in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, along with numerous publications in other esteemed scientific journals.
• Bose was a pioneer in the development of radio receivers, which facilitated wireless telegraphy. He even presented his work to leading scientists of his time in Europe.
• Unfortunately, his disinclination to patent his work potentially cost him a Nobel Prize. Instead, the honor was awarded to Marconi in 1909 for work that Bose had previously accomplished.

Bose's Plant Studies:

• Bose had a knack for detecting electric signals and creating sensitive instruments.
• His studies significantly advanced biological communication systems and delved into the biology of movement, sensation, and the nervous system.
• Bose's simple experiments demonstrated a striking similarity between plant and animal tissue responses to external stimuli—a phenomenon later confirmed by biophysicists using sophisticated instruments.

Find out more about the life and contributions of JC Bose in the linked article.