Intelligence Without Brains

How much brain do you need to be smart? Bees and ants perform marvels as colonies, though each insect has barely any brain. And plants-with no brain at all-exhibit behaviors that, by any definition, count as intelligent. Brace yourself for a mind-bending exploration of plants that learn new behaviors and warn their brainless fellows of danger; vines that compete with each other; molds that solve puzzles; and trees that communicate and cooperate through a ‘wood-wide web’ of microscopic mycological fibers. Perhaps the real question is, are we smart enough to appreciate the vast range of intelligence that surrounds us?
PARTICIPANTS: Monica Gagliano, Simon Garnier, Thomas Horton, Naomi Leonard, Mark Moffett
MODERATOR: Natalie Angier
MORE INFO ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND
PARTICIPANTS: www.worldsciencefestival.com/...
Chapters:
0:00 - Program introduction
0:57 - Opening film on the study of plant intelligence
3:45 - Panelist introductions
5:25 - Plant bio-acoustics
12:55 - Slime mold intelligence
19:40 - Interaction between fungi and trees
30:04 - Plant memory and learning
44:30 - Transmission of memory in slime molds
48:35 - Collective intelligence
50:22 - Leaf-cutter ant intelligence
59:04 - Swarm behavior
1:06:04 - Applying swarm intelligence to robotics
1:13:05 - Moving beyond the neuronal model of intelligence
1:16:15 - Consciousness
1:18:40 - Ethics of our interaction with plants and animals
1:23:05 - Environmental effects on collaboration
CREDITS
- Produced by Micah Fink
- Associate Produced by Matt Carlstrom
- Opening film produced / edited by Vin Liota
- Music provided by APM
- Additional images and footage provided by: Getty Images, Shutterstock, Videoblocks
- Recorded at New York University
The Big Ideas Series is supported in part by the John Templeton Foundation.
- SUBSCRIBE to our KZbin Channel and "ring the bell" for all the latest videos from WSF
- VISIT our Website: www.worldsciencefestival.com
- LIKE us on Facebook: / worldsciencefestival
- FOLLOW us on Twitter: / worldscifest

[@TheWormzerjr]

how ironic ---- i am sure the plants are thinking of humans: brains without intelligence

[@smoothtwh]

Perfect comment!!

[@lvr5266]

haha good one.

[@woodman9083]

What is brain , a coil of purkunje cells..! And tree itself a purkunje system 🌿

[@NoGymNeeded]

​@woodman9083 yes that's all it is. Even though its the most complex thing in the universe. It seems your leaving a little bit out in between there but ok 👍

[@chielichiel]

I wish Monica had her own youtube channel! Imagine how education would change if all teachers were like her.

[@christinagens2538]

Oh that would be absolutely amazing !!!!! Having had the exceptional pleasure of meeting her I can only confirm .... She has so much more stories to tell and an approach we are so in need of..

[@bellezavudd]

There are quite a few videos here on youtube featuring her, solely or like this one with other speakers. ' Plant intelligence' is the search I used to find them but her name will probably turn up even more.

[@Lasselucidora]

A moderator that is good is worth SO much. Natalie is good. It is not difficult. Ask a question and keep quiet. Do not be a Narcissist.

[@monah7651]

I remember one mod who was a bit cocky-he took it upon himself that he could tell the audience everything himself instead of the guest speaker.

[@kriterer]

The dynamics of this panel are so subtly wild. I love it.

[@jonmo111]

adorable

[@crimsonbehemoth]

I love how Monica was sounding like a student who decided to take a blow off class and took on a project and is accidentally stumbling upon discoveries in a field that wasn't her major but now has to stick with it and see where it all leads to

[@lucasthompson1650]

The most inspirational scientists are the ones that love being scientists. As much as I can relate to and understand the ones who complain about budgets and grants and the difficulties getting published, I'd much rather listen to the ones that would drag you into their lab for show and tell, saying, "Oh my God, you HAVE to see this, it is SOOOO cool!".

[@NimbleBard48]

I haven't watched the video - only listened to audio and that is EXACTLY how she sounds - like a student. Overall, this event was really enjoyable to listen to.

[@brianlaroche8856]

That may apply to most ppl it does to me, and dont regret it, many more stick to the cliche refran tale tale methaphore age of concent c word, kind of like the fungy and the ant. The farmed exclusive fungi has the ant doing the work to continue in the colony. We can change diets easier than the ant.

[@sripathiramakrishna3121]

In my veiw, Monica must be a brilliant scientist in her field. She may have come across like a student talking, but I think that came from a humble scientist, delivering radical findings at the cutting edge of science.

[@ctwolf]

@@sripathiramakrishna3121 I dont think the above commenter intended student broadly with the negative connotations, I think they meant it positively in a relatable manner, that type of "oh ill try this, that sounds interesting" paired with the insatiable curiosity attributed to students. Monica was my favorite from the presentation, highly relatable, humble, fun, and inspiring. But that could be in part due to her significant dominance of talking time. Which unlike politicians, was well warranted and appreciated. She talked when she had meaningful content, it just so happens that she had a lot of meaningful content to contribute.

[@zachmorgan6982]

Lady with the scarf is brilliant. I love her energy!

[@victoriagoddard4617]

You should read her book- Thus Spoke The Plant ! It’s brilliant.

[@SuperAdamskii]

I liked her story about being Vegan and her mum insisting that Salami is not meat.

[@kdud2799]

She's an inspiration! 😉😄

[@gretabrown1408]

I agree she is an inspiration to me too

[@davidbrathwaite5779]

Absolutely! She puts it together better than anyone else on the panel.

[@gregoriorazgado5541]

This is what You Tube was meant for freedom of information... Not a get rich quick scheme.

[@eranzaidel]

פ

[@thomassmith-yu8tz]

It seems there are lots, I repeat, lots of videos with free information on how to get rich quick. ;-)

[@Drakancito]

Money is still the most popular topic. Sad... but true... we do need more information sharing capabilities... cof cof facebook pls allow to link youtube videos into IG cof cof... so we dont have to fight against "original content of thongs and muscles and money"

[@KrolKaz]

Yea but most youtubr get rich quick schemes actually work.

[@andy68686]

This video itself is a get rich quick scheme. To acquire all the knowledge in this video, you would have spent millions and years of research.

[@travelingrockstars9813]

Omg! ❤️ I am working on my PhD in Metaphysics and this video blew my mind -explaining all of US (humans) through all other living things…connected to all living things: Oneness. I’m going to write my Thesis on this! Thank you so much all of you scientists that were on the panel for your work!!!!!!!! I can’t wait until this is common knowledge! I can’t quit crying! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!❤️❤️

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

I want some of whatever you're smoking

[@danielfinley-pesti6661]

@@ThePizzaGoblin lmao. try heroin tho. plants are amazing.

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

@@danielfinley-pesti6661 I don't think I am going to try heroin, thanks

[@autismo4029]

@@ThePizzaGoblin eat shrooms

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

@@autismo4029 I plan on it. Never tried them before but I think I'm ready for it

[@danwatkins6537]

WE NEED MORE OF THIS SCIENCE PLEASE!

[@conniepr]

Yes more collaboration.

[@johngenet2181]

The under ground network between trees and plants is absolutely fascinating.... great video, I need more.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Yes, I never knew how they talked to each other and how trees, if they know they are dying, will try to give the nutrients to other trees and spread seeds around.

[@jvb9553]

Monica is brilliant, creative and very charming. That's what we need in science. Watched the whole discussion. Absolutely brilliant. Gives me hope for the sometimes moribund state of modern science.

[@marcgottlieb9579]

Now thsee experimenters are putting it in everything from the food we eat to the meds we take...We are the lab rats...Very charming indeed !

[@jvb9553]

@@marcgottlieb9579 What?

[@goodlife7756]

Such a soothing civilized conversation! All six of them were so full of their expertise knowledge and sophisticated sarcastic manner of expressing their findings in such a simple way! Every minute was worth listening! Hats off to all! Thanks for sharing!

[@mjfryer4540]

Fascinating

[@Trallalinda08]

I agree - this series is Wonderful... YAY!!

[@goodlife7756]

@@Trallalinda08 oh yes! it is 🙌!

[@Trallalinda08]

@Mike Diaz-Albistegui good luck to you in the future :)

[@knowahnosenothing4862]

Because they were mocking the average human, who acts as if they were plants.

[@S.R.Crnt.]

I put this video on, specifically to make me fall asleep. But this is just too interesting for me to fall asleep.

[@sams_3d_stuff]

Really dude!! How can you comment exactly what I'm doing right now, 1 month ago!

[@ccsutherland4621]

@@sams_3d_stuff and here I am a month after you 😂😭

[@Cocorich830]

These what I have been doing for my insomnia :)

[@riteshpokhrel2614]

@@sams_3d_stuff k

[@NickBatinaComposer]

Hayyyy me too!

[@hlaakaplee]

The convo around 41:14 is a lot like the convos in trauma-informed psychology circles of how children living in longterm toxic stress adapt to their environments. Even if they’ve been out of it for weeks, months, and years.

[@MultiNeal11]

The intelligence is in cell membrane, no “brain” required. In the human womb, the body makes the brain, not the other way around, therefore the intelligence is in the whole body and the brain is just an organ.

[@pearltears8039]

this is awesome very well said! iv never thought of it that way but it makes total sense

[@jadegold66]

The morphogenic field. Ask Rupert Sheldrake. I don't think that is the correct spelling for his name.

[@viniandressen]

Absolutely true!

[@skelosgaming3312]

Well atleast in eye development the placement of eye cells is based on the concentration of Ephrin and the placement of the cells they project to is based on EphA concentration. It's not really intelligence (atleast in the common use of the word) per se it's more a kind of convenient biological engineering.

[@SourCyanide]

@@skelosgaming3312 saying "convenient" really sidesteps the slow refinement of genetic memory that is evolution.

[@astro-zodiac]

What I understood from this video is that "Intelligence comes from network (connection) of units capable of exchanging information independent of the way how they do it."

[@kevinblackandwhite8273]

Brilliant! Also, I must say that the moderator did a great job.... She obviously has no idea about the subjects being discussed, but was intelligent and respectful enough to let the experts chat amongst themselves.

[@johnrotuno1077]

I'm WAY more used to encountering brains without intelligence.

[@meyerrosen2398]

I love how Monica was sounding like a student who decided to take a blow off class and took on a project and is accidentally stumbling upon discoveries in a field that wasn't her major but now has to stick with it and see where it all leads to

[@joeyyang5684]

I'm impressed by her "No brainer" quip even though it's obvious English is not her 1st language. I also find her very attractive in an unconventional sense.

[@MrKotBonifacy]

"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." (Ecc 1,18) Or, in other words - the three most favourite pastimes of humas are "eat, drink and be messy"... or something like that ;-)

[@ATGG]

That's the 2020 World.

[@ManufacturedCrises]

👏👏👏😂

[@elonever.2.071]

One of the best discussions I have seen here. Very interesting and I think Natalie did a great job as moderator letting the conversation flow naturally and the participants leading into or allowing another to add their expertise to the discussion. It is also very refreshing to hear participants say, 'We dont know.' instead of filling in the gap with opinion.

[@wokabikirigwi]

00

[@rose10002]

I like that these scientists visibly love their work, and they are also a lot of fun! No one is taking themselves too seriously and the laid back vibe makes this a great combo of education and entertainment! I especially love Monica, I aspire to be like her :)

[@michaelpearson9530]

I've thought much about this subject, and I have come to the realization that since plants have been around for approximately one Billion years before animals, we "animals" are elaborate Seed Carriers just another method of propagation!

[@maverickmo8976]

Nice thought

[@5kr3aminMunk33]

@Aristotle Stagirus legit

[@frankenstein6677]

Interestingly, if you look at the microscopic examples of living beings, the difference between "plant", "animal" and "fungus" becomes basically null.

[@virtualmoyda7221]

Now think about why fungal psychadelics offer such profound feelings of interconnectedness, perspective and revelation. It's a co evolved system of communication.

[@brianlaroche8856]

Its more closer to 2 billion, reproduction was well stablished evolving on and....

[@consciousnessinanutshell]

This is the most mind blowing talk I’ve heard from World Science Fest and I’ve seen at least 30

[@AjarnSpencer]

thats a lot of mindblowing. watch you dont blow it completely

[@arroyodave5845]

@@AjarnSpencer just goes to prove organisms with brains prefer to blow while organisms with out brains use intelligence.

[@tinfoilhatter]

mind: *blown*!~ *whew*!!! f'REAL! like ARE! YOU!! SERIOUS!!! the implications are not merely staggering, they're... down-for-the-count....!!! no hokey-pokey-about it! this is what i've been shoutin' for decades! plants are people too, sorta-kinda, they have a sort of sentience, if-you-will, and not merely theoretic'ly! THEY LIVE!!

[@sreedevi6336]

22

[@consciousnessinanutshell]

@@sreedevi6336 haha

[@thebergbok8279]

My personal experience was when in my early 20's, I often visited a small now gone Victorian glasshouse in the company gardens Cape Town, South Africa. As I entered the tropical section of the hothouse, I found the noise level, for me to be quite deafening, as if the lush plants were literally singing/communicating to/with each other,certain sections more loudly than the others.. Quite extraordinary, no misters or sprayers were operating at the time. Moving on to the drier succulents section the absolute silence was palpable. At every visit the experience, with varying degrees, which seemed to correspond to the weather outside was exactly the same.

[@annbarbarag9152]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@carter_1]

Loved the charisma between the 3 scientists. It made an already interesting topic, more enjoyable to listen too.

[@danieltheodore1359]

What a delightful group of people, this is why you should follow your passions. Even if it isn't as academic as these people you'll enjoy talking about it and interacting with people who have had similar experiences.

[@alangarland8571]

I'm glad to know it isn't just me. Sometimes on a fine day I will sit outside under a local tree, and it seems to provide a sort of wisdom. Then maybe I was just a bit stoned.

[@90MysteriumFascinans]

Alan Garland That is real! I totally feel it, too.

[@Dazzletoad]

Was it the LSD Tree 😂

[@alangarland8571]

@@Dazzletoad Possibly, It did have all sorts of strange writing on the bark.

[@dustman96]

There is much wisdom to be had by studying nature. Evolution already figured it all out. We are throwing a wrench in the well oiled machine. I feel stupid getting all stressed out with my work, meanwhile that bird is facing much greater hardships and doing it's work like there's nothing to it.

[@brianlaroche8856]

Idk but maple syrup or honey is perfect x tea or cupcakes

[@cimplicitOnet]

45:52 - Research has been done into water being capable of memory. The water can form clusters a variety of ways, allowing for information to be encoded. I'm not suggesting that is the only way plants do it, but perhaps one of the ways.

[@vsiegel]

Do you mean water in liquid form? There are many forms of ice with different crystal lattice structure, that is with different clusters repeated, depending on pressure and temperature. Lots of opportunity to encode information. But liquid water is when this order breaks, because the molecules move too fast to stay in their places, so it makes no sense to me. If the crystal cells would stay together, that would be interesting, but they would certainly not be ordered, because the ordered form is what we call ice.

[@penguinista]

The look on the vegan scientists face at 1:20:36 when she contemplates that her Mom still thinks salami is not an animal is priceless!!!

[@kaarlimakela3413]

I like how they riffed to each other's 'niche' ... this is fun to watch ...

[@immortalsofar5314]

"What about consciousness?" "I don't like to swear - I don't use the 'C' word."

[@plantifulvegan4198]

This was soooo fascinating , so many things I have thought but never heard talked about, so much information about our world . The moderator was great, asked intelligent questions and let people talk. Huge thanks to whoever uploaded this.

[@cIeetz]

Does this lady elaborate on how the Chili Plants knew what types of other plants were growing around them? Saying "They obviously knew" doesnt cut it for skeptics

[@RajeshPatel-fk2os]

So memories stores at cellular level not in the brain itself. Very fascinating.

[@letropchiant]

Why not at quantum level?

[@carlosandleon]

No that's not it lmao. I mean technically yeah, but our memories are electrical patterns

[@carlosandleon]

@sprock Ah yes that makes sense, but I believe the structures are detailed at most at a molecular level.

[@trentp151]

If you've ever taken magic mushrooms, you'd know within the hour how extremely intelligent they are.

[@NIKHILJ01]

Best one... And those who are in search of unknown.

[@Scp716creativecommons]

It's usually the fruits which contain enlightening molecules, and I often wonder if some of those beautiful thoughts are instructions, both for the young of the providing species, and for interacting members of the environment. Intelligence works through living networks, rather then comes from them

[@podnuh]

Is this joe Rogan?

[@sunnyboy4553]

@@Scp716creativecommons Beautiful thought. Plants do form living communities. Farmers and others who spend a lot of time with plants know not to plant certain plants together - which plants have an affinity for each other - and which do not do well together. Mushrooms and other fungi are inter-connected into giant webs below the ground and communicate through these underground biomes.

[@sunnyboy4553]

@@Scp716creativecommons They're called biomes. We humans exist on our Mother Earth's biome - which is vastly more important to us and our survival than which Nation State we happen to have been born into. Nations are only artificial human constructs that have no relevance to other species. All territorial boundaries are species-specific. Wolves can smell the scent-markers of another wolf pack and know not to go into their territory. Dolphins, etc. all have the same territorial instinct. Blood Rites by Barbara Ehrenreich goes into this instinctual base for all our frenetic flag-waving and the rivers of blood our species has spilled over the millennia on these ever-shifting human territorial boundaries.

[@IsaacRodman]

Probably the most inspiring panel discussion that I've seen in around five years of watching these. Amazing topics, and wonderful people; they really exemplify the collaboration that they are discussing among these networks

[@tophan5146]

Isaac Rodman yes I was about to comment similar. It’s fascinating

[@Cordial_Lump]

even that audience member asking about collaboration... what a truly natural topic of conversation... a truth we all know: things are easier when we can rely on a group for help. Mutual aid at the drop of a hat sounds so comforting... all in this together, we are social animals after all :)

[@CandidDate]

I am truly humbled by Nature's grandeur. Thanks for this eye opening talk!

[@rzbruno]

What a fluid and interesting conversation. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse and rich nature is, beaming with life, all sorts of organisms and problem solving mechanisms.

[@NicoleGizzy79]

Mashed me think of AVATAR

[@rezakarami2179]

Gosh, scientists are so awkward, I love it

[@BBishop27]

I think they are just beyond being fake to fit in.

[@Joaocruz30]

Science is the awkward.... to us at least

[@ghostnoodle9721]

@@BBishop27 Its a waste of time, society will accept you when you make such great discoveries

[@brianlaroche8856]

@@Joaocruz30 the akward bizzare is the non experimental scientific, (follow the drop off clif crowd types) to me.

[@godfreecharlie]

When Galileo offered the eyepiece of his telescope to the clergy to view the moons of Jupiter they claimed to see nothing. Willful denial of reality is essential for most people to accommodate their ignorance. Determined abandonment of reason, rational thought, critical thinking is necessary too maintain faith. Scientists and science itself do not allow for this kind of treatment of reality. Christyun dogma does not allow this kind of thinking. It takes a special kind of brain to deny evidence and facts. From the first day of Sunday school christyun believers teach children how to evade the truth.

[@katiekat4457]

In general I have a short attention span and don’t like watching movies or long documentaries because I become antsy. But the talks on the WSF channel just fly by so fast and always leaving wanting more. They are always so interesting. I wish they were longer so we could hear more from all the interesting people. Love The WSF.

[@primovid]

47:38 is the most profound statement of the program...The concept that we as humans may be storing memory at the chemical level in parts of our bodies outside of our brains. Wow.

[@view1st]

The stomach, or the bacterial biome in the stomach, has been implicated in having an effect on our mood and health and has been called a second brain. The heart also.

[@DavidAlki88]

Well technically every cell is capable of storing information so why not?

[@TheNightwalker247]

Thank you so much World science festival. It's amazing to see passionate people talk with esch about things they love. And let me tell you i loved all the puns

[@1Dublin]

I found Monica's experiment fascinating whereby plants were dropped and responses measured in both low and high light conditions . Monica mentioned allowing gaps of time of up to 28 days between drops to see if the plants remembered, which they did. I wonder what would happen if another plant that was not privy to the original drop experience was included during the down time between the 28 day day gaps in drops? Would the other plants prepare this new plant and influence it's reactions to its first time experiencing the drop?

[@teluobir]

Particularly if they were connected via an underground fungi, I guess :)

[@rylexautumn3766]

Good question.

[@tomatoso27]

20:26 You'd think that SLIME would be a good subject for wordplay, but it's SNOT

[@leebee5361]

Oh, just RUN with it, lol!!

[@leighatkins22]

Touché... 😏

[@WilliamSarokon]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha, a sense of humor in science is well needed. Great comment for me!!!

[@AjarnSpencer]

it snot indeed

[@arroyodave5845]

It's lime flavor.

[@thecuriouscrow-doodleerkla5670]

"science is at the forefront of ignorance". very well said!

[@UnlimitlesslyFunnyDude]

science is just exposing ignorance .... what are you talking?

[@corinnecd]

"science is like being at the forefront of ignorance" :-). Great discussion about plants, fungi and slime mold exhibiting problem solving, learning and what might be called intelligence without brains. Made me want to go out and listen to fennel sprouting in my yard. And to think we're still at the forefront of today's human knowledge (surrounded by a fair amount of ignorance still) is both amazing and wonderful at the same time.

[@RobertCMorin]

It reminds me of the recent discovery of gut bios and the symbiotic relationship we share.

[@randomdude2540]

Monica is my new favorite scientist

[@zain4019]

Random Dude Same:)

[@shookreeseeree4]

She has a good humour n I would love to work with someone like this..

[@TheTHe0DB]

100% ! She's so great .

[@oscarpayan890]

Yea they're all Great !

[@danwatkins6537]

20:26 You'd think that SLIME would be a good subject for wordplay, but it's SNOT

[@LCbr1j]

Absolutely loved this...fascinating. This has given me more respect & adoration for the intelligence of all things.

[@Trallalinda08]

THIS ! yes

[@lengould9262]

Monica is a superb presenter. Self-deprecating humour, very smart, articulate. Excellent.

[@MarkFeaGuitar]

Wow, what a fantastic collection of people... I could have listened to them all for several hours more. Just shows, despite what we think of as being technological now, we still are just scratching the surface of how this global ecosystem developed and works...

[@purpleflametarot39]

🎶 I heard it through the grape vine..🎵

[@linyenchin6773]

I understood that reference, in context with what the Iranian lady proposed v.s that ancient song from before the modern times.

[@barrywhite9114]

....not much longer would you be mine.

[@barrywhite9114]

We depend on plants for survival & we compete with each other. Those who study and learn our intimate relationships with plants will be integral in the future human, plant & animal competitive interactions!

[@tonysaladino1062]

I am the grape vine.

[@im415again]

Me: looks over at plant. Plant: Feed me Seymour

[@bethbartlett5692]

😂😂😂

[@brokenacoustic]

"Little shop, little shop of horrors whoa oh whoa ohhhhh" that'll be in my head all day...

[@daithiocinnsealach3173]

Feed me baby!

[@NorthGermanic]

The one with Jack Nicholson at the dentist is the best version😁👍

[@brianlaroche8856]

I picked up food gardening (just learning it sucks) Plants are not quite my friends yet...

[@alpheuswoodley8435]

One of my all-time favorite science talk videos - I rewatch it all the time, and always have new ideas.

[@trr7128]

Your introduction is amazing! Plants should be all over! I heard a lot of these incredible truths before. Some say, if you sing to flowers in your garden, they would grow( fresh and) well! Mind blowing!!! The opposite may be true! Yell at those plants, they may fade! Don't they have a life? Yes; they a actually 'live'. Thanks for uploading.

[@animistchannel2983]

Hi! Great panel. We've been telling you people this kind of thing for a very, very long time. It's so nice that science has finally started to catch on to what we have considered the obvious all along. Keep up the good work, and perhaps one day you will also hear what we hear. Perhaps, in the privacy of your work, some of you already do. Let us know if you'd like some help to find out more -- it's all alive out there :)

[@rayzorrayzor9000]

We have an inbuilt bias towards intelligence cos we define what intelligence is .

[@deltauniformtangocharlieho2795]

As long as we don't confuse intelligence with consciousness or sentience I think it is pretty obvious that information is being exchanged and acted upon (i.e. intelligence) between plants and large collections of animals with marginal central nervous systems like ants. Computer and computer networks are intelligent, but not probably not conscious, yet.

[@brianlaroche8856]

Bias is stone age tablets beliefs indoctrinating ppl for mass control and profit

[@bratbaby3057]

You never hear of how animals are telepathic but it's obvious they are(not sure about dogs th0)

[@bratbaby3057]

@@deltauniformtangocharlieho2795 our hair are antennae

[@brianlaroche8856]

@@bratbaby3057 lol and humming for hours,

[@azazelderais4421]

I have no previous knowledge in any of these fields. This panel is highly educational, the participants interact well together & it held my attention for the duration. I wish there was more. I'll be showing this to those around me.

[@ddab918]

This was one of the most enjoyable and informative panel of researchers/scientists and moderator that I have heard, all so humble and willing to share and listen to one another, so that we, the audience can learn. So fascinating to me even though their topics are not my fields of discipline…their passion and curiosity so clearly fuels their research and discoveries. I see them all having retained the curiosity we all have as children which leads and drives us into discovery. I would like to suggest that these exact people meet again in 3 to 5 years and bring to us updates in their research. The group dynamics of this session was so positive and so outstanding that it well worth gathering these great minds together again with the sane modertor to follow their respective research. Thank you, thank you…I now look at the ground, grass, and dirt below my feet with fresh eyes, now aware of the teeming life beneath my feet.

[@vjnt1star]

The description of the drop experience where the plants learn and adapt their behaviour was very interesting. It makes you wonder how those basic organisms do all that. I think we tend to think about brains like a computer where the memories must located in a particular place then when we apply the same logic to the plants we fail to see how this is possible. My personal theorie is that memory is in not stored anywhere in particular in our brain. For example you could make identical triangles with 3 rocks, 3 matches, 3 anything but the information that is the shape of the triangle remains exactly the same. What is important is the relationship between the parts rather than parts themselves. With this idea in mind we can now say for us in our brain the memory is in the relationship between the neurones and for the plant the memory is the relationship between their internal network. The mystery is no more like that. Well that's my idea anyway

[@am-fq8lz]

Well clearly they are not basic organisms

[@brianlaroche8856]

What is more troubleing is how "intelligence" humans cant learn from constant politic economic drops

[@julianhaelig119]

We can see where memory is stored by brain activity. Being able to make a triangle out of different material...im not sure what correlation that has with a brain or memory. Alzheimers and dementia you can see the memory die in their brain.

[@vjnt1star]

@@julianhaelig119 A brain is one way to store memories but it might not be the only way. Nature may have found other ways to memories even without a brain that is all I am saying. Usually you many ways to do one things.

[@kathyadair8552]

@@vjnt1star Yep. Like, "Collateral circulation". When there are blockages, new pathway channels are created. Like, a river re-routing itself.

[@philippacrowe6734]

Great chemistry amongst all those involved. Loved the fluidity of their interactions.

[@ethanbondick8244]

Went to watch cat videos when my houseplants stole the phone and put this video on.

[@j.d.4697]

You mean biology.

[@fehimgok3476]

A moderator who refrains from interrupting conversations and unnecessarily dumbing down the issues to the audience is the key.

[@musaritrashid7534]

I think universes has it's own language .

[@adamstrator5079]

I would say there was a little too much chemistry between two of them in articular that was little distracting! LOL!

[@wayneyadams]

One of the coolest plants I ever saw had to be the walking plant growing in my yard in South Florida. It was a succulant tropical plant that had large elephant ear leaves. It would lean toward sunlight and after a while drop roots below itself at the new location. If it still did not get full sunlight all day, it would lean some more and drop down more roots. Over the course of several years it ended about four or five feet from where I planted it. Does that mean it had consciousness and could think, of course not, but it was still the coolest plant around.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

That is amazing!

[@barirashid1850]

Yes its conscious

[@RJCHOICE]

I'm impressed by her "No brainer" quip even though it's obvious English is not her 1st language. I also find her very attractive in an unconventional sense.

[@goldbluetears]

yeah she is so radiating and full of life!

[@barakamunene]

I stumbled across this comment just as soon as she said it haha

[@765crazyk]

@Me, Also Me why be like that? Do you think it does something good for you to try to hurt someone else that is expressing their appreciation for another person?

[@onreality5583]

Fascinating talk, I really enjoyed listening to all the various contributions. Thanks! I have commented some specific thoughts already, but more generally I find it interesting that most of the panel studied animal behaviour before going on to study plants; Mark Moffet said anthropomorphism, used smartly, was a good way to learn about nature; and here we have a great panel of people who are able to intelligently anthropomorphise human behaviour onto animals! Next step is to myceliomorphise mushroom intelligence and behaviour onto ourselves, so we can stop being the biggest parasite on the face of the earth. :)

[@mjrchapin]

This was wonderful except for the starlings. Birds have extremely sophisticated brains. These people don't seem to know that or care about all the research in this area. They also don't seem to know about reflexes: reflexes don't have to pass through the brain; getting to the spinal nerves is enough to execute the move, including collisions. All the rest of this was just AMAZING!

[@davidgomez-wt7pn]

Wonderful talk! Sparked a couple of creative scenarios for me. Inspiring!

[@ryuhjnyguh6404]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 So damn grateful for this channel 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@changarookitty6920]

If you want to really HEAR the sounds of plants do this: Find a smooth bark tree like Aspen. During Summer, hug the tree with your whole body. Hold it with your knees and body, arms and place your ear flat against the tree. Hold your breath, close your eyes and listen..... You can clearly hear the sap running up and down the tree from the roots to the leaves. It sounds like water in pipes in the walls. Also very cool while hugging the tree, put your face against the tree and look straight up to the top of the tree. See the top swaying and then slowly move your eyes down the trunk, and you can start to see the trunk moving all the way down to the ground! You can feel the tree moving through your contact with the tree. When you look at the trees at eye level, you don't see the tree moving at ground level. But now you will see and feel it! It's SOOOO AMAZING to expierience!

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

I DID THAT ! IM GETTING OUT ON PAROLE IN SIX MONTHS

[@vinceesposite686]

i have just started the video and paused it to give my experience with a particular plant that well, made me humiliated and at my own doing. The plant did what it wanted to do, not what i expected it do sans my own education. This plant was a wisteria vine. My wife planted it so that the plant could be trained to grow as a tree which is entirely possible if the plant has nothing to attach itself to like another tree or fence. I had semi retired to work at home which gave me plenty of time to observe many forms in nature, i was amazed at what i was learning from insects but, that plant literally made me feel stupid for a moment. We all know practically any plant will adjust its self for optimum sunlight, not this one. I watched this plant daily steer itself away from the track of the sun in the sky and begin to reach for the chain link fence that was 12 feet away. ( the plant was only 2 foot tall) Remember that this plant is a climbing plant yet, i have seen them free standing as a tree and will get quite large. After about a month of observance, not one branch or the main trunk ever leaned towards the sun, that is the point at which i called that plant stupid for starving itself for sunlight. I immediately reflected on that thought and realized exactly how that plant seemingly knew that it had a fence near by to climb on which it continually reached for even though the fence was far from its reach. i will not explain the whole process here because that takes the fun out of learning, something we should never wane from regardless of our age.The reason for that statement is , formal education only takes one so far, only science continually asks questions however, sometimes when the answer is supposedly found, we erroneously think that there are no more questions to ask. For instance, Dr. Massaro had discovered that water can and does react to thought, emotion, and differing genres of music in explicit ways. It was his research that led me to how that plant knew that an easier way to grow and spread was just 12 feet away, rather than doing it the hard way by its self mimicking a tree. Dr. Masaro died around this same time, before the realization came to him as it did me. That realization that i had was directly related to water and consciousness yet just a bit deeper. Water is the perfect example, almost. what is the majority of water made up of ? The number one Element, Hydrogen. Hydrogen is special in one way, one proton, one electron. the proton of course is positively charged and the electron is negatively charged. It is the most simple element and can readily combine with other elements because there is only one electron, one particle of negative shielding, think of it like a coaxial cable with the center conductor being the transmission coming and going and the outer grounded shield being the negative electron. I will submit that the proton of the hydrogen atom is fully capable of releasing information, receiving information and storing information but, in a very simple form, Binary. either on or off, one Byte of information. Now, when many of these atoms come together you begin to form a small computer. Now try to imagine an infinite number of these atoms together, like an ocean. Now multiply that number by a trillion to the trillionth power and you may be getting close to the number of hydrogen atoms just in one large star. Then then multiply that by all the stars in the known universe. Indeed you can ask the universe for things and receive an answer. It is the same principle when we pray but, there is a key as mentioned earlier. That key is; Emotion and i have proven this to myself numerous times. When asking for information or attempting to do more serious things like self healing with the mind; If emotion is absent or in a negative state, absolutely will happen, as with water the same. When the emotions are heightened, especially in a positive manner repetitively, then and only then is a difference seen. This is what has stumped scientist ever since noticing an experiment observed has differing results than one that is not observed. Mostly changed through anxiety or excitement, both negative as a feeling or emotion. If they specifically controlled their own emotion and others that may be near an experiment, indeed they would figure out that emotion has more effect than ever thought of before. Do you think that you could not do this ? Most of us have experienced this in our lives, for instance, you walk into a room with two people in it, you immediately know that those two people were arguing just prior to your arrival with out any thought of it, then the thought hits you and you may ask them," Is this a bad time ? " So , how did you know before actually asking ? Back to that simple molecule of water of which the human body is mostly comprised of. It was the same way that it happened that i was humiliated by a plant pointing towards my own ignorance. Maybe the ancient civilizations that worshiped the sun were far more closer to the truth than we have been, in this day and age. When we let our mind control all, the heart is left out in the cold to turn to stone. When this process is reversed; WORLDS CAN CHANGE !

[@JavierBonillaC]

“Reciprocal parasitism” sounds like “cooperation”.

[@goliathsteinbeisser3547]

Symbiosis, even.

[@fj5028]

Codependency

[@aliokatan]

almost, mutualistic, if you would

[@gurpchirp]

mutualism, dawg

[@E-Kat]

Why do we have symbiotic parasites amongst plants?

[@paulnorrigan2258]

I love this channel, this has by far been one of my favorites. I would especially like to thank the scientist, who I have now forgotten her name, for explaining her views on why she became a vegan. It was a very thoughtful and caring argument, thank you so much. There is still real goodness in this world, and this channel keeps reminding me not to give up... many thanks and please keep it coming.

[@Isaacsteponson]

I love this so much the interviewer lady has the clearest voice I’ve ever heard

[@jasonfaulkner8644]

Question of the century, near the end: "Do the bacteria want "our" brains to get bigger?"

[@E-Kat]

Yes, your gut bacteria wants to have more friends in your brain!

[@smileclick]

If all bacteria think that way then there wouldn’t be any bacterial diseases. It’s also worth considering that in a dead body, many of these bacteria that help us live, eat up our corpse in a feeding frenzy. Maybe we control and nurture them instinctively for our benefit, like a horse is controlled by its jockey.

[@oradoughball]

We need a good triffids remake.

[@jasonfaulkner8644]

@@smileclick Until someone proves its pointless, I talk to my gut bacteria. I figure my body is like a big tree ... there are some smaller species living in it, and I assume 80%+ would like the tree to stay upright and vital. So I try to offer a symbiotic deal ... if my body denizens work with my brain to keep this flesh golem upright (by destroying dangers that the brain misses) I will do my part with diet and exercise. Am I mad for attempting this?

[@jadegold66]

@@jasonfaulkner8644 not mad. Anything is possible, you are communicating with a subsection to benefit the whole.

[@nothanks327]

If you have ever worked in a greenhouse it is crystal clear plants react to it's environment. They send signals to the near by plants and react to changes in the environment.

[@kelly2fly]

This group of panelists are funny. I love their silly dad jokes and banter. Also, they indirectly confirmed the Happening can be reality.

[@mwaringmlw]

I really enjoyed the talk, I've always liked my biology teachers, you are a special type of people. I appreciate the idea of the cool algorithms going on in nature.

[@etmax1]

In the discussion on the birds moving as one, while I agree that synergy in their movement is amazing, one thing the panel didn't consider is how the viscosity of air plays in supporting that that interaction, ie at speed the energy needed to compress the air between them interacts with the birds desire to remain a certain distance apart. In a vacuum with rocket motors obviously it would be a lot harder to fly in formation. Talk to any fighter pilot, and they will tell you how planes interact in close proximity to each other. Their speeds are much greater as is their wing surface area, so the minimum distance is greater.

[@NicoleGizzy79]

Kinda like being on a MOTORCYCLE And getting behind a 18 WHEELER with a Box load What your talking about is similar, Correct ¿?¿?

[@nikkibonbon1600]

thats so interesting how the plants who were in low light that then went to high light remained highly responsive and ready to react, not as relaxed as the plants who started off in the high light...just like a child going through trauma they can remain in a state of anxiety even into adulthood. Amazing transmitting slime mold memories between pieces of untrained slime molds...so fascinating....and we dont know where the memory is stored...hmmm...interesting...naomoi leonard is studying collective intelligence aka how to control the masses. lol

[@RSEFX]

Someone with a very subtle (or maybe not all THAT subtle) sense of humor decided to have everyone sit in Eero Saarinen's classic "tulip chairs"!

[@sunnyboy4553]

Growing up in NYC it always amazed me seeing sidewalk trees with branches stretching out to within maybe a couple of yards from the brick outside of a building. But in places where there was a house, with a wide lawn separating it from the sidewalk (just one in the neighborhood where I grew up), the sidewalk tree (same type) would expand it's branches magnificently. Where I live now in upstate New York, there is a mimosa tree on a property with a large open area. This mimosa tree spreads out into the open space like no mimosa tree I have ever seen before. It's huge... and awe-inspiring. But I've often wondered just HOW the trees know just how far they can extend their branches WITHOUT actually physically touching the nearest building. They must have senses we know nothing about. Also plants DO respond to love and care.

[@chrisscheibel9132]

in cities the tree branches are pruned/trimmed away from the buildings. if the trees were sensing the environment to that degree i'd think that the roots never would break through the streets and sidewalks, but they do. They all want to stretch out to spread their seeds far

[@sunnyboy4553]

@@chrisscheibel9132 No., they are not pruned or trimmed away from buildings. Not in NYC and I'm sure other cities as well. Where I grew up in Queens, NYC, no building supervisor ever pruned the sidewalk trees. In fact, in NYC they are considered city property and can't be cut down or managed in any way, except by the city. (leaves must be swept off sidewalks of course.) They do not belong to the property owner. I lived there most of my life, so I know. In the rare instance that tree branches were interfering with overhead power lines, then the city would send a maintainance truck with a cherry picker and trim the branches away from the power lines. This was my life experience. I know it for a fact, and saw it many, many times. Trees just stopped growing maybe three feet from a building. There was only ONE house where I grew up in Queens, NYC, that was a more modern build with an actual lawn, and the tree on the sidewalk was so magnificent and huge, the way it spread out. I had never seen a tree spreading out so much. I loved that tree. But decades later the owner must have sold the house (the only one in the area with a wide lawn and my beautiful tree was cut down. I was heartbroken, and wanted to put a rose on the spot where it had been, but just never got around to it. Roots are a totally different matter and must have a different sense of their environment. I know many plants like fungi have huge underground biomes where they are inter-connected by their roots, like whole communitites. Plants are more alive and sentient than our scientistic paradigm understands. Look around you. I'm sure you will see that where trees are not confined by other trees or buildings, they extend their branches out incredibly wide.

[@julianhaelig119]

This is the most mind blowing talk i've heard from World Science Fest and i've seen at least 30

[@twosongs7396]

This talk is absolutely FASCINATING! Thank you so much for sharing it here. I’m so grateful for such fine content.

[@quarkraven]

oh i could tell you why the ocean's near the shore. i could think of things i never thought before. and then i'd sit, and think some more.

[@winderzhao5010]

20:26 You'd think that SLIME would be a good subject for wordplay, but it's SNOT

[@leodiamondlegacy]

I’d unravel any riddle for any individual in trouble or in pain. With the thoughts you’d be thinkin you could be another Lincoln if you only had a brain

[@Bob-ix9gs]

I don't know if this gets mentioned, but Luther Burbank was by far the most amazing plant breeder of all time and he believed in talking to his plants. I mean, nobody else even comes close to the amount of strains he created

[@tenrouseimei7952]

I am just a guy that is in love with science and it's great to see that the're content makers and commentors out that that share this love. Let's act more "reciproce parasitarily".

[@UnlimitlesslyFunnyDude]

you are not in alone wth love of science ...... we all intellectuals are

[@nathanokun8801]

Thank you for this lecture. It was an amazing mind-expanding thing. Keep it up!

[@glutinousmaximus]

... the most interesting program that I've seen in many a long day! Thanks for posting :0)

[@gsdfgdfgsdf6016]

I love how Monica was sounding like a student who decided to take a blow off class and took on a project and is accidentally stumbling upon discoveries in a field that wasn't her major but now has to stick with it and see where it all leads to

[@marvinmauldin4361]

The study of learning by plants leads to the question of the psychology of plants, for instance can plants learn a conditioned response? In the classical Pavlovian experiment, dogs heard a bell, then were given food, making them salivate. After a number of trials hearing the bell was enough to make the dogs salivate. The next step is to take naive plants, make a sudden noise, touch a leaf, turn the lights off and on, or whatever they might be able to sense, then after a short pause, drop the plants. Then while the plants are still responding to being dropped, present the stimulus, but omit the drop, and see if the plants respond. Or present a stimulus, then do something else that makes the plants close all of their leaves, then before the plants become conditioned to the lack of danger, just present the stimulus. There are a lot of variations on conditioned response experiments, but generally treat the plants as though they were animals, and see how they respond. Maze experiments might take a while. Locating the areas of memory storage is hard enough for animals, but similar techniques might be tried for plants.

[@alejandromontanez2977]

I have recently been really into the idea of intelligence arising from connections between things in general, and I was delighted to see them touch on that here!! our consciousness arises from neuronal connections, but it =/= those neurons. I have no trouble seeing how connections in a mycorrhizal network could similarly lead to some sort of consciousness, but I also figure it would be really difficult for us to comprehend

[@aoeu256]

Well we live in a universe of information and every particle has a spin, and location and the configurations represent lots of different states. Moving through the states is processing...

[@ThePremanand711]

Super best of exchange of ideas, knowledge, observations, research et all. Please need more of such

[@sweetbabyYEEiiJJ]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 So damn grateful for this channel 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

Just found it.. can u link me a good vid from this channel plz?

[@vikranttyagiRN]

@@gumunduringigumundsson9344 click on the channel name and they have so many playlists on variety of topics in science. There is everything you are looking for

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

@@vikranttyagiRN yes but like . I can tell you that one of my fave vids from Isaac Arthur is Industrializing the moon. And the history guy's Lucky Flucky. Or curious Droid's project grand slam. Or Excurb1a's we are the last humans left. Or Strange Mysteries's top inventions. Any faves from this channel to get me introduced? Pleeese ✌😋🖖🐺🌍🥳👍 If not its ok. Have a great week m8

[@chadwolfeschledgelsteinhau9697]

Trust n jusus! Not in channels! Get on yo knees now! Can i get a aman?

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

@@chadwolfeschledgelsteinhau9697 aman! And I am also going to trust in good content to keep me educated so I can enjoy life better and am less of an hazard to my world and my self. Love 🖖🐺🌍🥳👍

[@manojanzen2842]

Hmm, so corn roots "speak", interesting. As children on the farm we knew that some roots grow so quickly producing sound as they push the dirt out of the way to make room for themselves.

[@barbarajacobs8897]

Chilli and Slime Mould are flirting outrageously! They definitely went out later, leaving Mushrooms behind!

[@tophan5146]

I’m impressed with the production quality! Well done!

[@daithiocinnsealach3173]

I almost didn't watch this. So glad I did now.

[@LlamaOccident]

The first guy who asked a question sounds exactly like Giorgio Tsoukalos’ voice, so I was half expecting him to ask about intelligence in alien lifeforms.

[@miaokuancha2447]

Finding something nice and then relaxing there. Finding the optimum network to connect multiple points. What life is all about.

[@Vrin137]

Fascinating! Thank you that was great, learnt quite a bit. Amazing info.

[@lotuspod17axemaster93]

This is what the world needs a lot more of right here , the reason i decided to watch this video ,yup for knowledge , if more people would get educated on all topics and or a range of topics weather they are interested or not i think the world would be a better place very well executed seminar , even a surprise element of how people of all walks of life can enjoy others with no screaming, yelling or talking over each other for more camera time or panel members being enemies with one another , well done and thank you for your knowledge and your time ✌

[@corruptcatalyst4141]

We need this level of puns in every science presentation

[@thegiantrubberduckyssqueek3163]

The trees squeak at me sometimes. Now I can assuredly say I'm not crazy

[@qweqwe700]

no, you're crazy

[@SgtMars]

by trees do you mean pot? lmao because if its not drugs then surely it's delusion.

[@MichaelMomany]

I'm surprised that Paul Stamets is not included in this discussion.

[@bhaerava]

Me too. He has been there 40 years ago:-). Rupert Sheldrake is missing too.;-)

[@lsb2623]

Paul is a smart man who comes off as a real grating jerk. I'd be surprised if anyone worked with him.

[@MichaelMomany]

@@lsb2623 And your credentials are Mr. No Name?

[@paxdriver]

Because guy who thinks a child's casket is a unit of measurement took his place, apparently lol

[@daithiocinnsealach3173]

Because he's a muppet.

[@djssquibbs3295]

That was an EXCELLENT selection of guests. This was a riviting show for me. textbooks are almost irrelevant now, but books are still cool, don't get me wrong, but until they can make one that has digital pages that are live then they're good for collections for me.

[@charliekezza]

Clicked on this thinking it'll be interesting. Realised it was a panel discussion thought "oh no this won't be interesting I'll give it 5 mins" and 1.5hours later "this was way cooler than expected"