The Secret Life of Trees

What they feel and how they communicate - Discoveries of a hidden world.

What if everything you ever thought you knew about trees was wrong?

What if, despite being so different from us, we discovered that they share several human characteristics?

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In recent years, science has proven that trees and humans have much more in common than we might imagine. Just like us, they communicate, maintain relationships, form families, care for the sick and their children, have memories, defend themselves from aggressors and compete fiercely with other species – sometimes even with other trees of the same species. Some are naturally solitary, while others can only live fully if they are part of a community. And, just like us, each one adapts better to a certain environment.

You may not realize it, but trees are secretly talking to each other. The 'conversation' takes place underground, through a network of fungi and long filaments that connect about 90% of terrestrial plants. In this way, in addition to exchanging information, trees can share nutrients and send their remaining resources back to other plants, and communicate about dangers, such as insect infestations. This fantastic discovery was didactically explained in this video below produced by BBC News.

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In the case described in the video, fungi suck food from trees, removing some of the carbon-rich sugar they produce during photosynthesis. Plants, in turn, obtain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that the fungi have acquired from the soil, using enzymes that trees do not have. In this way, dying trees can send their nutrients so that the current can benefit from them.

However, just like the internet, this trend also has a 'dark web' side, as some plants can 'hack' the system and steal nutrients from others. After watching this video, you will see nature from a different perspective. Trees are not 'just' trees, but intelligent organisms that communicate and are part of a complex collaborative system. Nature is truly incredible!

Book: The Secret Life of Trees