The seedlings appeared to be able to parse various sensory cues, ranking the inputs in terms of priority to their own health, Gagliano thought. But more pressingly, they could hear—and move toward—the sound of real running water. This would likely not surprise a plumber. Plumbers are accustomed to the frustrating phenomenon of tree roots bursting through sealed water pipes. Cities spend millions each year repairing municipal pipes punctured by “root intrusion.” Germany, for example, spends an estimated thirty-seven million euros per year repairing root-burst pipes. The U.S. Forest Service
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