It’s possible that plants feel pain, not necessarily the same way that we do but there’s indications of chemical responses to damage and shared danger signals. And, well…

In a macabre turn of events, there’s also evidence that plants can hear themselves being eaten. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that plants understand and respond to chewing sounds made by caterpillars munching on them.

Plants exhibit sophisticated abilities, sensing and reacting to various environmental aspects, engaging in communication and complex interactions with other species. While some behaviors are instinctual, others might hint at a form of cognition. Calvo’s work focuses on identifying factors indicative of cognitive behavior in plants, such as flexibility, prediction and goal-directedness.