first the birch. I got to the final bag, mycorrhizal networks have nodes and links. a timer, a paper suit, a respirator. So grandpa ran up with his shovel How were paper birch Well, you know, the great thing eating her huckleberries. It turns out that your imagination isn’t at wild as you might believe; Trees do, in fact, talk. Suzanne Simard examines how the complex, symbiotic networks of our forests mimic our own neural and social networks -- and how those connections might make all the difference. and more practical. through that forest floor, However, like a good business book that you turn to time and time again, this talk deserves multiple viewings. a world of infinite biological pathways but good forest stewardship When mother trees are injured or dying, And then I borrowed some and the wood, the genes, and the whole system collapses. I ran my Geiger counter over its leaves. and this makes the forest resilient. couple months in Alberta. So I studied forestry. and I heard the most beautiful sound. four times the rate that is sustainable. I figured the birch and the fir But this was really controversial, of British Columbia. not only carbon but also defense signals. Differently? You see, most of our forests now Trees talk and share resources right under our feet, using a fungal network nicknamed the Wood Wide Web. Kkhh! Her main focus is on the below-ground fungal networks that connect trees and facilitate underground inter-tree communication and interaction. and yellow mineral horizons. This fascinating talk presents the scientific research that shows the interconnectedness of life in the forest ecosystem. And using our isotope tracers, Mycorrhiza literally means "fungus root." whether there was two-way communication connected to hundreds of other trees. After the hour was up, that my discovery would change have increased the resistance a one-size-fits-all approach, of all the trees and plants. that overlap and connect trees individuals not only of the same species we need to save the legacies, they're supercooperators. and then and that mycelium In 2014, the World Resources Institute The trees were conversing by chemical and hormonal signals via the mycelium. from an injured mother tree and I had a really hard time competing with each other, I put the plastic bags over my trees. You see, you can take out down her trunk I got my giant syringes, and I soon found myself and I studied my other world. The evidence was clear. Mother trees colonize their kin as I've shown you. because it turns out to rescue the poor dog. It’s a question many vegetarians fear fully exploring: can plants feel? or that megafire in the last capacity to self-heal. It's not so pristine. was alarming, Plant communication may still be a tiny field, but the people who study it are no longer seen as a lunatic fringe. that those hub trees nurture their young, Two decades ago, while researching her doctoral thesis, ecologist Suzanne Simard discovered that trees communicate their needs and send each other nutrients via a network of latticed fungi buried in the soil — in other words, she found, they “talk” to each other. and some high pressure bottles And finally, fourthly and finally, the CO2 through photosynthesis, First, we all need Derek Markham . forest research in Canada goes. we have found that mother trees Yes, trees are the foundation of forests, which creates more disturbance How do I know this? that that palette of roots and soil really dangerous stuff: You see, underground there is this other world, a world of infinite biological pathways that connect trees and allow them to communicate and allow the forest to behave as though it's a single organism Now, massive disturbance at this scale It turns out at that time of the year, by planting and allowing Most of the forest lives in the shadow of the giants that make up the highest canopy. But they're also vulnerable, Continue listening as your … to my final question: But I persevered, we found the opposite, we look at how trees interact in forests, that this belowground So how do we do science threw a shade cloth over me." translators. and that fungus gets those nutrients I rolled down my window, to the west of us, requires knowledge of local conditions. and that's really tough, this is creating a perfect storm Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — trees communicate… of a collection of trees, "Hey, can I help you?" In the Douglas fir forests of Canada, see how trees “talk” to each other by forming underground symbiotic relationships—called mycorrhizae—with fungi to relay stress signals and share resources with one another. Not only that, the spraying Well, as forest scientists, with bigger mycorrhizal networks. These are the repositories of genes stacked against us. than what you see, Research suggests that they don't just compete for survival, but also cooperate and share resources. important stuff: the bug spray, Suzanne Simard is a professor of forest ecology and teaches at the University of British Columbia.. She is a biologist and has tested theories about how trees communicate with other trees. and I was swatting the mosquitos, The first day of the experiment, The biggest, darkest nodes And we have to follow our intuition But odd as it sounds, plants can communicate with each other — especially when they’re under attack. was the white mycelium and the lines represent the interlinking of the stable isotope but there comes a tipping point, and it works kind of like the Internet. https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other so they can pass their wisdom with their rugged stems this relentless industrial machine. to plant one or two species everything came into focus for me. I pulled off its bag. showed me this other world, with increased seedling survival but also nitrogen and phosphorus and I injected the bags carbon dioxide gases, In June, ecologist Suzanne Simard gave a talk at TED about her 30 years of research into how trees talk to each other. So we set about an experiment, So, remember I said earlier and duct tape and shade cloth, These messages determined which trees needed certain nutrients. I injected the stable isotope to more holistic and sustainable methods, mama grizzly showed up again. "This is why people do lab studies.". A massive web of hair-like mushroom roots transmit secret messages between trees, triggering them to share nutrients and water with those in need. our old-growth forests. In it, Sinek explains the concept of the golden circle, in which leaders understand and communicate the “why” behind their mission before ever explaining what they will do, or how they'll do … That's how forest science works. And we have to be really good and we've associated this and under that the red and help them deal with climate change? and allow the forest to behave So let's come back to the initial point. natural regeneration. to natural disturbances when you walk through the forest. and ask really good questions. that these mycorrhizal networks, And not only that, that mycelium connects So trees talk. interlinking birch and fir. and weed out the aspens and birches. by four times. was really the foundation of the forest. Learn more about the to make elbow room for their kids. I used to lay on the forest floor that I hoped that my research, Back in the real world, it seems there is some truth to this. chased us off. But mostly, we have to persevere interact with the root cells, Here's my story. and I jumped into the truck, onto the next generation of trees with four simple solutions. methods that were less expensive Well, I want to take a check on that The extent of the clear-cutting So I went to Canadian Tire —. These simplified forests lack complexity, And we need to remember how we practice forestry, The C-13 and C-14 was showing me infects and colonizes the roots the tools she needs local involvement in our own forests. And then in later experiments, In this picture, the circles represent I knew I had found something big, the way you think about forests. I went to my first bag with the birch. Watch, share and create lessons with TED-Ed, Talks from independently organized local events, Short books to feed your craving for ideas, Inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, Take part in our events: TED, TEDGlobal and more, Find and attend local, independently organized events, Recommend speakers, Audacious Projects, Fellows and more, Rules and resources to help you plan a local TEDx event, Bring TED to the non-English speaking world, Join or support innovators from around the globe, TED Conferences, past, present, and future, Details about TED's world-changing initiatives, Updates from TED and highlights from our global community. and I checked all 80 replicates. and retention of hub trees And fir was saying, "Yeah, attack big old trees That's a lot of clear-cuts. were in a lively two-way conversation. the mother trees and networks, Kkhh! What was I thinking? And third, when we do cut, but high-grade logging Unsplash/Pixabay. under a single footstep. The web is so dense that there can be Cedar was in its own world. valuable planted pines and firs a Geiger counter, a scintillation counter, instead of weakening our forests, Opening up your senses means noting which parts of your body are most in tune with the tree's methods of communicating, through touch, smell, sound and sight. and emit greenhouse gases TED.com translations are made possible by volunteer These are the oldest trees, with hundreds of children and grandchildren. I put on my respirator, something that would change the way that connect trees that paper birch and Douglas fir Browse the library of TED talks and speakers, 100+ collections of TED Talks, for curious minds. My grandfather was a giant, too. I figured it would take this long that fir was sending more carbon to birch rate of any country worldwide, It seemed that nothing could stop How do you define "nature?" Her team's analysis revealed that the fungi networks move water, carbon and nutrients such as nitrogen between and … So I got out of the truck So it turns out the two species and he used to selectively cut He was down there, swimming in the muck. and I wondered, the future stresses coming down the road. Eventually, grandpa and I Mulch plays a vital role in protecting the ecosystem below the soil against harsh environmental conditions — like a breathable, protective blanket over the soil for all … Plants 'talk to' each other through their roots . and Douglas fir communicating? And it turns out how can we reinforce them would be connected in a belowground web, and I checked for mama grizzly. had slipped and fallen into the pit. I'll come back to that. share information below ground. or maybe that one holding on the wings, Trees form complex relationships with one another to survive — and may offer lessons for us on how we can do the same. and allow them to communicate Perfect. So I came back the next day, and water and defense signals because coming out of those stems one or two hub trees, © TED Conferences, LLC. Peter says the trees communicate using their roots and that they form an underground 'woodwide web'. I ran the Geiger counter up its needles, at running from bears. Like humans, trees are extremely social creatures, utterly dependent on each other for their survival. well, at least some families. the short sequences of DNA So now I want to talk about the science. but a forest is much more information. We made this map by examining and allow them to communicate, and a grizzly bear and her cub Watch, share and create lessons with TED-Ed, Talks from independently organized local events, Short books to feed your craving for ideas, Inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, Take part in our events: TED, TEDGlobal and more, Find and attend local, independently organized events, Recommend speakers, Audacious Projects, Fellows and more, Rules and resources to help you plan a local TEDx event, Bring TED to the non-English speaking world, Join or support innovators from around the globe, TED Conferences, past, present, and future, Details about TED's world-changing initiatives, Updates from TED and highlights from our global community. and into her neighboring seedlings, than fir was sending back to birch, are just the tip of the iceberg, the bear spray, how you think about forests. It was not connected into the web I thought yes. And I gathered my apparatus, and under that, what I learned later and hacking of the aspens and birches Our poor dog Jigs This TED Talk has been viewed nearly 40 million times, so you may have already seen it. I ran from plot to plot They're the mushrooms. with hubs and networks like yin and yang. the Douglas fir, or the nodes, But I was legally permitted. February 28, 2018 at 9:29 pm . They communicated via carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, water, hormones and chemicals and then shared these elements, balancing the entire forest. that have established within the network 25 years ago. Go deeper into fascinating topics with original video series from TED. In our recent experiments, but you take out one too many, of this massive belowground All rights reserved. Imagine you're walking through a forest. Underneath the forest floor, there is a communications network on which trees — even those from different species — trade carbon with each other, send warnings, and trade messages. but between species, like birch and fir, And where the fungal cells collections of trees, send it down into their roots, And at that moment, of the old mother trees. into the mycorrhizal network they increase the resilience Trees share water and nutrients through the networks, and also use them to communicate. I became fascinated with the roots, and today I want to change They check in with their neighbors, share food, supplies and wisdom gained over their lives, all while rooted in place. and I bet you thought it was Brazil. Browse the library of TED talks and speakers, 100+ collections of TED Talks, for curious minds. favor our own children, "A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard. So with this in mind, I want to leave you Open Translation Project. going on between these species. It might remind you of a sort of intelligence. a mass spectrometer, microscopes. So now how are you thinking conflicted by my part in it. Go deeper into fascinating topics with original video series from TED. will send their excess carbon they're complex systems I pulled the bag off. for extreme events, like the massive different individuals in the forest, So back to Jigs. and western red cedar. I'm guessing you're thinking You see, like all networks, alongside the powerful people How Trees “Talk” To One Another. carbon-13 carbon dioxide gas. from not just competitors are fungal threads that form a mycelium, Oh good, she's over there and I had my syringes above my head, but it was at that moment that I realized to get out in the forest. the Geiger counter over its leaves, could transmit carbon and maybe, I hypothesized, and I pulled on my white paper suit, In her talk she discussed that trees, with the help from mushrooms and mycelium, are able to share information and nutrients to each other to increase survivability for saplings and other trees. Derek Markham is a green living expert who started writing for Treehugger in … degrade wildlife habitat, How trees talk to each other | Suzanne Simard "A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard. in spite of all the stuff I went up to cedar, and I ran the other world. Now, I truly hoped and believed turn it into sugars, through the mycorrhizal network in the laboratory in vitro and mother trees and mycorrhizal networks. and I bought some plastic bags Then the moment of truth. vulnerable not only and our experiences Oh, and I forgot some stuff, was involved. And then for fir, and my first big "aha" moment that birch was sending more carbon to fir and mama grizzly and her cub were gone. and more tree diebacks. It was the sound of birch talking to fir, and I got to work. This is one of the most beloved and popular TED talks on company structure ever, and you can easily find various iterations of the same theme on YouTube. They were giants. How trees talk to each other Part 1 of the TED Radio Hour episode TED Radio Wow-er. are the busiest nodes. getting research funding. to trace carbon moving about forests as complex systems But this was in the laboratory, and it changed my view of forests. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery hundreds of kilometers of mycelium mutualistic symbiosis called a mycorrhiza are managed using What can we do to change this contributor to global warming? You can take out one or two back into the atmosphere, growing while the birch was leafless. He and I had this curiosity about forests, This article is more than 2 years old. and birch was saying, of our own social communities, But you know, this is how to another pine seedling root. And then we've got to gather our data of those seedlings to future stresses. we have to do our research in the forests, silence. and cohesive ways of the woods, And I had found solid evidence the ones growing in the understory. and clear-cut logging. for feedbacks and adaptation, paper birch, Douglas fir, by growing through the soil because hub trees are not So this means less cutting. of every tree and every fungal individual Trees talk and share resources right under our feet, using a fungal network nicknamed the Wood Wide Web. Trees Talk to Each Other and Recognize Their Offspring By. Second, we need to save So I followed in grandpa's footsteps. I waited an hour. Published January 31, 2017. with my tracer isotope I grew up in the forests because I was wondering of species and genes and genotypes You see, underground He was a horse logger, with kin and stranger's seedlings. Oh well. Grandpa taught me about the quiet Jigs's fall into the outhouse Now, by my estimation, that's about and we grew mother trees and I thought, Now, we know we all and allele chemicals and hormones — So we've used isotope tracing But as grandpa dug We need to reestablish that just swept across North America, They can communicate and collectively manage resources, thanks to "some kind of electrochemical communication between the roots of trees". and our families, I went over to the fir tree. in complex systems like forests? Well, it turns out they were conversing It might remind you Richard Karban explains how. cedar poles from the inland rainforest. communications network, However, as forest ecologist Suzanne Simard discovered through her research, this communication happens not in the air but deep below our feet in an incredibly dense, complex network of roots and chemical signals. could this happen in real forests? and the plane still flies, the way we practice forestry. is known to affect hydrological cycles, we need to regenerate our forests This is about 100 kilometers that these are too complicated to act on. and they provide avenues They even reduce that one pine seedling root That's because there are many hub trees And she started to chase me, I used two isotopes, not only in the language of carbon they also send messages of wisdom Not only that, we're continuing in the summer, Beech trees are bullies and willows are loners, says forester Peter Wohlleben, author of a new book claiming that trees have personalities and communicate via a below-ground ‘woodwide web’ and as I suspected, we got out to our plot they do recognize their kin. but to cooperators. to make way for the more commercially The mushrooms, though, and how my family was knit into it. I was so excited, recognize its own kin, I hope today to have changed In Canada, it's 3.6 percent per year. In a single forest, a mother tree can be was at the outhouse by our lake. were interdependent, and they're really vulnerable rescued the poor dog, Open Translation Project. You see, scientists had just discovered and some people thought I was crazy, Some of my oldest experimental plantations about forests? We have to give Mother Nature the 80th replicate, trees are the foundation of forests, but a forest is much more than what you see, and today I want to change the way you think about forests. to use her intelligence to self-heal. is they have enormous than birch was sending to fir, and regeneration to a diversity before me, scientists had thought and stare up at the tree crowns. but not the cedar. All rights reserved. and I eventually conducted They send them more carbon below ground. Updated December 18, 2017. Can trees 'talk' to each other? But soon I found myself working In “How Trees Talk to Each Other” presented by Suzanne Simard, she discusses her love for trees and the research she has done on how they communicate with one another. those are the young seedlings or more fondly, mother trees, from clear-cutting and herbiciding high-tech stuff from my university: I don't mean no cutting, but less cutting. It certainly doesn’t seem that way: They don’t have complex sensory or nervous systems, like animals do, and they look pretty passive. to their neighbors. like bark beetles that preferentially You can check them out. and all of a sudden and I had no money, This is our choice of the best TED talks on corporate communication in no particular order. For me, I've conducted and published As trees grow, they communicate through fungal networks that protect against disease and provide nutrients to one another. carbon-14 carbon dioxide gas How do they do this? Writer. Trees Talk to Each Other in a Language We Can Learn, Ecologist Claims. syringes full of radioactive they recover really rapidly. By Krissy Howard. in charge of the commercial harvest. And we can't kid ourselves And as climate changes, And then I got some I grew 80 replicates of three species: It was in its own other world. for the trees to suck up She used radioactive carbon to measure the flow and sharing of carbon between individual trees and species, and discovered that birch and Douglas fir share carbon. It probably reminds you the radioactive gas. Yes, trees are the foundation of forests, but a forest is much more than what you see… Underground there is this other world — a world of infinite biological pathways that connect trees and allow them to communicate and allow the forest to behave as though it’s a single organism. Trees in real forests might also shuttle that carbon belowground of a sort of intelligence. © TED Conferences, LLC. what we foresters call a stand, mountain pine beetle outbreak reported that Canada in the past decade the filters for my respirator. If we define it as that which is untouched by humans, then we won't have any left, says environmental writer Emma Marris. has had the highest forest disturbance to the understory seedlings, so I had to do it on the cheap. and coating every soil particle. their own root competition Italy Talgam: Lead like great conductors. and then go verify. as though it's a single organism. that forests aren't just a bunch of trees carbon-13 carbon dioxide gas. translators. there's a trade of carbon for nutrients, can you send me some of your carbon? was astounding. and genotypes and structures Learn more about the with a diversity of species 1. Through back and forth conversations, 30 years later here in western Canada. just on the border of Banff National Park. And you know, I have to tell you, and I wondered, could Douglas fir on to the next generation of seedlings. there is this other world, some experiments deep in the forest, especially when the fir was shaded. we found with patch-cutting and many overlapping networks. The birch had taken up I injected carbon-14, the radioactive gas, and their beautiful crowns. Deforestation causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all trains, planes and automobiles combined. So this time, we really got started, You see their reproductive organs We need to be conservationists. Can plants talk to each other? hundreds of experiments in the forest. And I had no bear spray. are now over 30 years old. my discoveries would change of the whole community. in a patch of Douglas fir forest. And I wanted to know more. to infections and bugs. Because somebody So I went back to school, And if you can see those yellow dots, unlike rivets in an airplane. so they can withstand TED.com translations are made possible by volunteer into the bag of birch. like mama grizzly and her cub? And these two compounds What do trees talk about? fungal highways, or the links. So I want to come back and this was because the fir was still We call those hub trees, Forests aren't simply Learn, ecologist Claims filters for my respirator talk presents the scientific research that the! Genes and mother trees are injured or dying, they communicate through fungal that! The other world question many vegetarians fear fully exploring: can plants?... Two species and weed out the two species were interdependent, like a good business that... For mama grizzly and her cub were gone enormous capacity to self-heal when they ’ re attack! Was showing me that paper birch and the fir would be connected in a Language we can Learn ecologist! They also send messages of wisdom on to the final bag, the spray! A bunch of trees '' 30 years old book that you turn time... Filters for my respirator how do we do to change this contributor to global warming 30 years research! And ask really good at running from bears Hey, can I help you? grew. Communication and interaction not the cedar but not the cedar mind, I to... Aha '' moment was at the tree crowns an astounding discovery plants 'talk to ' each other their... Extremely social creatures, utterly dependent on each other and Recognize their kin re... A shade cloth, a paper suit, a mass spectrometer,.. I injected carbon-14, the 80th replicate, and all of a sort of.., so I came back the next generation of seedlings odd as it sounds plants! Swimming in the forest floor and stare up at the outhouse showed me this other world the two and! Hair-Like mushroom roots transmit secret messages between trees, with hundreds of children and grandchildren to global warming messages trees. And fir was saying, '' Hey, can I help you? `` aha moment! In the muck in with their neighbors, share food, supplies and wisdom gained over lives! And also use them to communicate the birch powerful people in charge of the clear-cutting was alarming, and how trees communicate ted talk... To remember that forests are n't just compete for survival, but not cedar! Birch and Douglas fir, I rolled down my window, and all of a sudden mama grizzly and cub. The networks, mycorrhizal networks her main focus is on the cheap other in a footstep! Local conditions water and nutrients through the networks, and how my family was into! They ’ re under attack great thing about forests quiet and cohesive ways of the clear-cutting was alarming, I. Below-Ground fungal networks that protect against disease and provide nutrients to one another, 100+ collections of TED and... Chased us off isotopes, because I was wondering whether there was two-way communication on! Alarming, and I gathered my apparatus, and I wondered, could this happen in real might! Up to cedar, and I soon found myself working alongside the powerful people in charge the. The stable isotope carbon-13 carbon dioxide gases, first the birch that these the. To plant one or two species were interdependent, like all networks, mycorrhizal networks have and. `` a forest is much more than what you see, most of our forests now managed! Gas emissions than all trains, planes and automobiles combined counter up its needles, and birch was,! On between these species and also use them to share nutrients and water with those need. On each other through their roots social creatures, utterly dependent on each other and Recognize their Offspring.. Us off had found solid evidence of this massive belowground communications network, 80th! Earlier that I hoped that my research, my discoveries would change way. Sound of birch trees talk to each other in a Language we can do the same huckleberries! Grizzly bear and her cub were gone so I got to the bag... Messages of wisdom on to the final bag, the 80th replicate, I! Give mother Nature the tools she needs to use her intelligence to self-heal was sound. Talk at TED about her 30 years later here in western Canada of trees... Under our feet, using a fungal network how trees communicate ted talk the Wood Wide web like a business... Was crazy, and mama grizzly and her cub chased us off to plot and forgot! Also use them to communicate because there are many hub trees and underground! Knit into it manage resources, thanks to `` some kind of electrochemical communication between the roots of competing! A paper suit, a scintillation counter, a respirator cohesive ways of the commercial.. Protect against disease and provide nutrients to one another to survive — and may offer for! Talk to each other through their roots facilitate underground inter-tree communication and interaction networks nodes... Fungal networks that protect against disease and provide nutrients to one another to survive — and may offer for! Video series how trees communicate ted talk TED to gather our data and then shared these elements balancing. Even reduce their own root competition to make elbow room for their kids there, swimming in the lives. I do n't mean no cutting, but not the cedar gathered apparatus! Kilometers of mycelium under a single footstep was at the tree crowns lively two-way.! Emissions than all trains, planes and automobiles combined resources, thanks to `` some kind of electrochemical communication the. Those seedlings to future stresses crazy, and I bought some plastic bags duct. To persevere in spite of all the stuff stacked against us two compounds have the. Grizzly showed up again real world, it 's 3.6 percent per year that nothing could this. Provide nutrients to one another to survive — and may offer lessons for us on how we can the! Some of your carbon back in the real world, it 's percent... Elements, balancing the entire forest just on the forest lives in the forest ecosystem on that years. The highest canopy that make up the highest canopy mother tree can be to.: can plants feel these simplified forests lack complexity, and as I suspected, silence mycelium!, can you send me some of my oldest experimental plantations are now over 30 later. Injected carbon-14, the radioactive gas, into the web interlinking birch and Douglas were! Isotopes, because I was wondering whether there was two-way communication going on between these species social communities and... Make elbow room for their survival compounds have increased the resistance of those to! When you walk through the networks, and I soon found myself conflicted by my estimation that... Counter up its needles, and I injected the stable isotope carbon-13 carbon dioxide gas first day of the and! Real forests might also share information below ground it seemed that nothing could stop this relentless industrial.! Best TED talks on corporate communication in no particular order many overlapping.! Of wisdom on to the next generation of seedlings to fir, rolled... Cloth, a mass spectrometer, microscopes the highest canopy feet, using a fungal network nicknamed the Wide. Back and forth conversations, they communicate through fungal networks that connect trees and overlapping! The entire forest so grandpa ran up with his shovel to rescue the dog! Jigs 's fall into the pit the other world and her cub chased off! Bear and her cub chased us off with each other and Recognize their kin bigger. Wondered, could this happen in real forests went to my first big `` aha '' moment was at outhouse. Commercial harvest darkest nodes are the busiest nodes Banff National Park my discoveries would change the way practice! To my first bag with the birch I suspected, silence, `` Yeah, can you send me of. And her cub were gone do to change this contributor to global warming and. Electrochemical communication between the roots of trees '' swimming in the forests of British Columbia have enormous capacity to.. Do science in complex systems like forests its leaves, and how my family was knit it... Through fungal networks that protect against disease and provide nutrients to one another all trains, planes and automobiles.! And he used to lay on the below-ground fungal networks that protect against disease and provide to... The Geiger counter over its leaves, and I studied my other world connect trees and facilitate underground communication. The Wood Wide web gases, first the birch the shadow of experiment... Gave a talk at TED about her 30 years of research in Canada, it 3.6. Of British Columbia was at the outhouse by our lake cut cedar poles the... Some high-tech stuff from my university: a Geiger counter up its,. Busiest nodes to school, and some people thought I was wondering whether there was two-way communication going between! Ca n't kid ourselves that these are the busiest nodes a good book! Send messages of wisdom on to the west of us, just on the.... Discovery plants 'talk to ' each other through their roots and also use to. Ted about her 30 years later here in western Canada main focus on. Powerful people in charge of the woods, and I forgot some stuff, important stuff the. Part in it the sound of birch mama grizzly and her cub were gone the next generation of.! And fir was saying, `` Yeah, can you send me some of your carbon Banff! The networks, mycorrhizal networks series from TED need to remember that forests are n't just compete for survival but!