The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger

 *aired the week of May 4, 2026

 The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger is a fascinating look into the world of plant consciousness, social interactions, and intelligence. In this exploration of cutting-edge botany, Schlanger explores new research that indicates that plants may be so much more than the non-sentient backdrop of our lives. Research indicates some plants can communicate through airborne chemicals, roots may be able to hear, and some plants adapt best when grown next to their family members. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but Schlanger's research shows that plants may have their own, plant-ish intelligence that we are just starting to understand.