Listening to plants
Clip electrodes onto a leaf and turn micro-variations of electricity into music. Biodata sonification with a simple Arduino.
Plants show measurable electrical variations — conductance, surface potentials — that fluctuate with light, watering, touch. “Biodata sonification” converts these signals into MIDI notes: you literally listen to the plant.
The build
An Arduino (or a dedicated module like MIDI Sprout / PlantWave), two electrodes on a leaf, a signal-to-MIDI converter, and any synthesizer. The whole thing costs a few dozen euros to build — open-source plans and code are available.
What it measures (and what it does not prove)
Let us be clear: hearing a melody does not prove the plant “speaks” or “feels”. But the experience changes something: the silent green scenery becomes a living organism reacting in real time. A fine example of a tool that opens a door without demanding belief. A detailed build guide will live here.