A viral video has left viewers amazed by the hidden life of plants.
The clip, shared on Reddit’s Damnthatsinteresting subreddit, shows a plant ‘breathing’ in real time.
Captured through a microscopic lens, the video offers a rare view of this process. It reveals how plants manage gas exchange—a function essential for their survival.”
Within hours, the video accumulated over 10,000 votes, captivating users with its almost human-like quality.
Plants “breathing” captivates viewers
A remarkable video showing plants “breathing” in real-time has captured widespread attention. Posted on Reddit’s Damnthatsinteresting subreddit, it quickly went viral, amassing over 10,000 votes within hours.
The footage offers a microscopic view of a plant, highlighting its fascinating gas exchange process. This real-time “breathing” happens through tiny pores called stomata, which regulate carbon dioxide intake and water loss.
The video quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media
The Reddit community responded with awe and humor. While many were intrigued by the discovery, some took the opportunity for light-hearted comments.
One person said: Suffocation . No breathing
A second wrote: Oh. I guess I’m more desert adapted than I thought. I’m more Phoenician than most be being primarily nocturnal as a person.
While a third commented: I must now dust all my indoor plants. They are chocking on dust mites!
Another added: Thought that was a pixelated video of baby shrek eating for the first time.
Someone else said: vegans are gonna have to starve
That does NOT look real-time, it looks like stop-motion or time-lapse, even the lighting changes… Another user added.
Science behind plant respiration
In 2022, researchers from the University of California San Diego published a groundbreaking study in Science Advances detailing this process. Plants take in gases through the stomata, small openings on the underside of their leaves. Carbon dioxide enters, enabling photosynthesis, while oxygen is released as a byproduct.
Stomata can’t stay open indefinitely, as this would dry out the plant. They constantly open and close to balance gas exchange and water retention.
“The ability to adapt to environmental changes is crucial for plant growth and water efficiency, especially in today’s climate with increasing drought and high temperatures,” explains Julian Schroeder, plant science expert and lead researcher on the study.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f-kGYV4ejVo
Researchers discovered a sequence of proteins that act like “sensors,” responding to carbon dioxide levels and signaling the stomata to open or close. This response is crucial for regulating the plant’s internal moisture, enabling it to thrive even in challenging conditions.
According to Matthew Buechner from the National Science Foundation, “This research integrates genetics, modeling, and systems biology to produce insights that can help society, such as developing more resilient crops.”
The discovery of plants’ adaptive gas exchange mechanisms holds significant promise for developing robust, water-efficient crops. This research underscores how plants continually adapt to changing conditions—offering insights that could transform agriculture and improve food security in a warming world.