this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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Science Memes

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[–] Hupf@feddit.de 85 points 2 years ago
[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 74 points 2 years ago (2 children)

In a sense, all the light harvesting parts of a plant are collecting information about its environment.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 42 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Do you often feel like there are thousands of eyes watching you? Taps pen.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I do wonder the resolution that it could detect.

Can a leaf detect the difference in blue light coming from above and green light surrounding it? Can it detect the green and brown light surrounding it? The red light reflecting off a bird sitting above it?

If it's sensitive enough to the different wavelengths a leaf wouldn't really be all that much different from an eye.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I mean.. yes?

Like that is kind of all a leaf is 'really' doing.

I dropped this mostly as a joke, but here is photosythesis:

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/47117e3d-82e0-4325-816f-ed2c854d18b2.png

All plant pigments are photoreactive in 'some' manner:

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/08%3A_Photosynthesis/8.05%3A_The_Light-Dependent_Reactions_of_Photosynthesis_-_Absorption_of_Light

Its ancient dusty, pre-covid exposure memories, but I took a course as a graduate student covering the quantum physics of photosynthesis, and that's basically what a leaf is doing. In the above image, the peaks on the left at around 400-500 can be thought of as blue light, and the peaks around 640-800 can be thought of as red light. Both of these wavelengths of light are involved in photosynthesis, which you can think of as in a manner, solar fusion in reverse. The plant has to take the light from the sun (the product of fusion), and get that energy reattached to a molecule. In fact, iirc, its basically the same electron orbital diagram. And it does make sense, because physically, that is what is happening.

These days I do much more boring stuff, but I always loved photosynthesis. Its probably one of my favorite chemical reactions. Nah fuck that it is my favorite chemical reaction.

So like, yeah. Plants have a TON of information about their environment. Granted, their photosensors don't have lenses, but they are constantly gathering and reacting to information about the quantity, quality, and locations of light. Afa resolution? Thats like, actually a super interesting question. Not having a lens is a big drawback.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Came for the meme, stayed for the scientific studies.

[–] Ozymati@lemmy.nz 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The trees are watching us.

[–] workerONE@lemmy.world 33 points 2 years ago

That's cool, I'd go on a second date with you.

[–] Kata1yst@kbin.social 31 points 2 years ago

Well that's super fucking cool

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You bastard. I was supposed to work tomorrow. Now I am going to depending down this hole.

[–] Something_Complex@lemmy.world 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I am resisting the will, I'll just date him so he can tell me all about it

[–] SnipingNinja@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 years ago

Well, tell me when you have learnt it all, I'll date one of you to learn after that

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Thank you for the links!

A bit horrifying that actual research points to plant vision.

[–] Narrrz@kbin.social 11 points 2 years ago

the likelihood of triffids grows every higher

[–] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 23 points 2 years ago (2 children)

So if you have plants in your bathroom, they’re watching you poop. Neat!

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 years ago (2 children)

That kind of explains why I can't keep plants alive... I'm traumatizing them so bad they want death.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

For 90% of people it’s watering issues. Mostly overwatering.

Ya, usually I either overwater or forget about it entirely for extended periods of time.

That's why I have mainly plastic plants now. Much less fussy.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

5 words: Beer bottle drip feeder attachments.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 5 points 2 years ago

Drip feeders can in fact be excellent. Unless you’re already the kind of person who will forget about those as well.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 9 points 2 years ago (3 children)

But wouldn't they be, like, "yum, fertilizer!"?

Not if they have to see that guy with his pants off!

[–] Narrrz@kbin.social 7 points 2 years ago

plants are farming us all for food. playing the long game.

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Probably not with my diet.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 8 points 2 years ago

Plants: "Eat more phosphorus and potassium!"

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

They smell the food, they can see the food being made, but by the cruel hand of fate, they just can't get the food.

[–] affiliate@lemmy.world 23 points 2 years ago

their loss king

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What? That chick is gonna miss out. What dating app was she using?

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] meyotch@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 years ago

Adding a personals section could provide funding for years.

[–] ReMikeAble@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago

I'd eat it in a salad, then morph my life away!