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FRENCH PHYSICIST CREATES growth were revealed. The idea that plants NEW MELODIES—PLANT SONGS “re influenced by sound in both positive by Dr Nick Begich and negative ways was demonstrated by several world-class scientists at that time. © 1997 When we think of plants being affected emember those songbirds we used _ by sunlight we are really looking at the R: hear in the fields? The sounds of effect of a portion of the electromagnetic animals in nature singing a sympho- spectrum on plants; that portion which ny of soft and subtle sounds as all things includes visible light. It should not sur- flow together to create a living and vibrant prise us that sound also impacts plant concerto? Science is now showing that growth because it is, in essence, an exten- these sounds actually do influence the _ sion to other parts of the electromagnetic growth of plants. Researchers have — spectrum. demonstrated that plants respond to sounds The science was first disclosed in an arti- in profound ways which not only influence cle by Andy Coghlan which appeared in their overall health but also increase the New Scientist (May 28, 1994, p. 10). The speed of growth and the size of the plant. article confirmed old ideas by placing them Many people remember hearing in the in a scientific context. It tells an excellent late 1960s and 1970s about the idea that story about the impact of sound on plant plants respond to music. There were lots of growth, bringing to light what was before projects in high schools and colleges which considered esoteric or mysterious science. successfully tested the effects of sound on Many people remember reading accounts plant growth. It was determined through _ of plant growth being stimulated by sound repetitive testing that plants did respond to waves. At that time, "talking" to plants and music and sound. The first book which _ playing plants different types of music was brought this idea to most of us was The used to influence growth. A number of Secret Life of Plants, by Peter Tompkins _ people were using these techniques without and Christopher Bird (Harper & Row _ being able to completely explain the phe- 1973). In this best-selling book a number nomena. This article is part of that story— of astounding revelations about plant a story which could have a profound impact on the way we grow and produce our food. Eccentrics who sing to their plants? People playing melodies to organic matter with the expectation that it will help stimu- late growth? These ideas were the thoughts of some "non-scientists" until French physicist and musician, Joel Sternheimer discovered the mechanism for how plants respond to the stimulation of sound waves. Sternheimer composes musical note sequences which help plants grow and has applied for an international patent covering the concept. The sound sequences are not random but are carefully constructed melodies. Each note is chosen to correspond to an amino acid in a protein with the full tune corre- sponding to the entire protein. What this means is that the sounds sequenced in just the right order result in a tune which is unique and harmonises with the internal structure of a specific plant type. Each plant type has a different sequence of notes to stimulate its growth. According to New — Scientist, "Sternheimer claims that when plants ‘hear’ the appropriate tune, they produce more of that protein. He also writes tunes that inhibit the synthesis of proteins." In other words, desirable plants could be stimulated to grow while undesirable plants (weeds for instance) could be inhibited. This is done with electromagnetic energy—in this case sound waves—pulsed to the right set of frequencies thus effecting the plant at an energetic and submolecular level. Sternheimer translates into audible vibrations of music the quantum vibrations that occur at the molecular level as a protein is being assembled from its constituent amino acids. By using simple physics he is able to compose music which achieves this correlation. Sternheimer indicated to New Scientist that each musical note which he composes for the plant is a multiple of original fre- quencies that occur when amino acids join the protein chain. He says that playing the right notes stimulates the plant and increas- es growth. This idea is particularly inter- esting because it may lead to the eventual FRENCH PHYSICIST CREATES NEW MELODIES—PLANT SONGS by Dr Nick Begich © 1997 spectrum. The science was first disclosed in an arti- cle by Andy Coghlan which appeared in New Scientist (May 28, 1994, p. 10). The article confirmed old ideas by placing them in a scientific context. It tells an excellent story about the impact of sound on plant growth, bringing to light what was before considered esoteric or mysterious science. Many people remember reading accounts of plant growth being stimulated by sound waves. At that time, "talking" to plants and playing plants different types of music was used to influence growth. A number of people were using these techniques without being able to completely explain the phe- nomena. This article is part of that story— a story which could have a profound Bue al a HA RD ROCE 5. BLUES 46 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2005 www.nexusmagazine.com