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The Light Eaters: How the New Science of Plant Intelligence Expands Our View of Life on Earth

by Zoe Schlanger

  

€ 13.75 

ISBN: 9780008445386

"teeming with fascinating and enlightening insights" Observer




A narrative investigation into the new science of plant intelligence and sentience, from National Association of Science Writers Award winner and Livingston Award finalist Zoe Schlanger.



Look at the green organism across the room or through the window: the potted plant, or the grass or a tree. Think how a life spent constantly growing yet rooted in a single spot comes with tremendous challenges. To meet them, plants have come up with some of the most creative methods for surviving of any living thing - us included. Many are so ingenious that they seem nearly impossible.


Did you know plants can communicate when they are being eaten, allowing nearby plants to bolster their defences? They move and that movement stops when they are anaesthetised. They also use electricity for internal communication. They can hear the sounds of caterpillars eating. Plants can remember the last time they have been visited by a bee and how many times they have been visited - so they have a concept of time and can count. Plants can not only communicate with each other, they can also communicate with other species of plants and animals, allowing them to manipulate animals to defend or fertilise them.


So look again at the potted plant, or the grass or the tree and wonder: are plants intelligent?


Or perhaps ask an even more fundamental question: are they conscious?


The Light Eaters will completely redefine how you think about plants. Packed with the most amazing stories of the life of plants it will open your eyes to the extraordinary green life forms we share the planet with.

304 pages.

Not Yet Published.

Printed on or after 08/05/25. Please note dispatch may take 5-10 days after publication date.
A separate order should be placed for this item. If you order this along with other items, your entire order will be held and despatched when complete.

Date of Publication: 08/05/2025

Cover of The Light Eaters: How the New Science of Plant Intelligence Expands Our View of Life on Earth - Zoe Schlanger - 9780008445386Paperback

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