By Andi Anderson
A fascinating new exhibit at Cornell University is revealing how science and technology are helping humans communicate with plants. The exhibit, titled “Hello, Human! The Emerging Science of Plant Communication and Smart Agriculture,” opens November 6 at the Mann Library gallery and will run through March 2026.
The display highlights innovative research by scientists from the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) at Cornell, in collaboration with institutions including the Boyce Thompson Institute, Colorado State University, Tuskegee University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Visitors can explore projects that decode the signals plants use to express stress and how humans are learning to interpret and respond to them. “We’ve highlighted projects that decode plant languages, the different signals that plants use to communicate that they are under stress, and how humans are learning how to understand that language,” said Anya Gruber, CROPPS public engagement specialist and exhibit co-curator.
One of the featured demonstrations, CROPPS-in-a-Box, showcases a sensor device that detects when a plant leaf is slightly cut and then triggers a text message to alert the observer. Another innovation, RedAlert Living Sensors, features genetically engineered tomato plants that turn red when soil nitrogen levels drop—serving as “reporter” plants that warn farmers of nutrient deficiencies.
The exhibit also explores ethical and social questions surrounding biotechnology, guiding visitors through interactive panels that answer common questions like “What is a programmable plant?”
“Hello, Human!” is part of Cornell University Library’s broader series “From the Brink: Contributions to a Sustainable Future,” which will feature future exhibits addressing topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and endangered languages.
Through this series, Cornell hopes to inspire public conversations about environmental sustainability and the ways technology and science can help secure the planet’s future.
Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman
Categories: Illinois, Education