The mysterious voice of a giant: scientists recorded the sounds of the largest and oldest organism on the planet (video)

For 4.5 billion years, the Earth has been home to a huge number of organisms: some of them continue to exist and develop, while others have already become extinct.

Recently, scientists have discovered the oldest and largest living organism on our planet - Pando. This is reported by Science Alert.

Pando, which means "I will spread" in Latin, is a forest formed from a single tree species. This forest contains approximately 47,000 trunks with identical DNA that grow from a single root system. The total area of the forest is about 40 hectares, and its weight reaches approximately 6,000 metric tons, making it the largest living organism on the planet, at least by mass.

According to research, Pando began its existence approximately 12,000 years ago as a single specimen of the trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). Over time, it evolved into a huge organism - in fact, it is a monumental plant, with tree-like trunks reaching a height of up to 24 meters.

Researchers have long sought to record the sounds of the largest living organism on Earth, and, according to the founder of the Friends of Pando organization, Lance Oditt, they succeeded in doing so in 2023. Scientists were very inspired when they managed to capture Pando's "whisper" - the sounds made by its leaves. In fact, the wind, converted into a vibration moved by the root system, is able to reveal the inner workings of Pando's hidden hydraulic system. At the same time, scientists did not have to break into it and disrupt its operation.

Sound engineer Jeff Rice placed the hydrophone in a depression at the base of the branch and then extended it to the roots of the tree. He admitted that he didn't expect to get much information. Rice explains that hydrophones not only pick up sounds in water, but can also record vibrations from different surfaces, such as roots.

After installing the hydrophone, the sound engineer observed a faint sound that intensified significantly during a thunderstorm - the device recorded an eerie low rumble. Rice speculates that the sound of millions of leaves moving through the tree and down through the branches into the ground can be heard on the recording.

The hydrophone also captured the thumps that come from tapping on a branch, further confirming the connection between Pando's root systems. However, the scientists admit that a specially designed experimental setup is needed to definitively confirm that the sound is not transmitted through the ground.

You can listen to Pando's whisper here.

It should be noted that shared root systems are typical of colonial quaking aspen, but Pando's size and age make him exceptional. Although quaking aspens can reproduce by seed, this is rare because pollination is infrequent. Large aspen stands usually have only one sex, because they are all clones of the same individual.

However, now the largest and oldest living organism on Earth is probably in decline. Scientists are concerned that human activities, including logging and extermination of predators that control the herbivore population, may lead to the extinction of the Pando.

Earlier, we reported that one of the rarest mammals on Earth was spotted in an Australian park.

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