The Trembling Giant Speaks: Sounds from Pando, the World’s Largest Living Organism
Researchers captured sounds from Pando, a colossal quaking aspen clone spanning about 100 acres in Utah and weighing around 6,000 tons, possibly 12,000 years old. A hydrophone inside a hollow at a branch’s base picked up vibrations in the tree and its root system, especially during storms, suggesting wind-driven sounds travel through the interconnected network. The project blends art and science to map Pando’s roots and monitor ecosystem health, while researchers warn the ancient organism is deteriorating due to human activity and environmental pressures.