{"id":44578,"date":"2025-06-13T12:22:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T12:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/idea.membrane.com\/songwriter\/?p=44578"},"modified":"2025-06-13T12:22:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T12:22:38","slug":"chemical-signaling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/2025\/06\/13\/chemical-signaling\/","title":{"rendered":"Chemical Signaling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XIV\/Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp3\">Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp3<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XIV\/Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp4\">Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp4<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XIV\/Chemical-Signaling.mp3\">Chemical-Signaling.mp3<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XIV\/Chemical-Signaling.mp4\">Chemical-Signaling.mp4<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/XIV\/Chemical-Signaling-intro.mp3\">Chemical-Signaling-intro.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[Verse 1]<br \/>\nPheromones<br \/>\n(Human moans)<br \/>\nReceptors<br \/>\n(Transmitters)<\/p>\n<p>[Chorus]<br \/>\nMark my words<br \/>\n(Mark my territory)<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s the story<br \/>\n(Words, molecular)<\/p>\n<p>[Bridge]<br \/>\n&#8230; spectacular&#8230;. (for sure)<br \/>\nFuture!<\/p>\n<p>[Verse 2]<br \/>\nWelcome&#8230;<br \/>\n(To the Wood Wide Web)<br \/>\nCome to know &#8220;how come?)<br \/>\n(The flow the ebb)<\/p>\n<p>[Chorus]<br \/>\nMark my words<br \/>\n(Mark my territory)<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s the story<br \/>\n(Words, molecular)<\/p>\n<p>[Bridge]<br \/>\n&#8230; spectacular&#8230;. (for sure)<br \/>\nFuture!<\/p>\n<p>[Outro]<br \/>\nHear what I say<br \/>\n(In a different way)<\/p>\n<p>A SCIENCE NOTE<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"227\">Chemical signaling between plants and fungi\u2014or between different types of animals\u2014is similar to vocal or sound-based communication in some fundamental ways, even though the <strong data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"194\">medium and method<\/strong> differ.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"234\" data-end=\"301\"><strong data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"301\">Similarities Between Chemical and Acoustic Communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"303\" data-end=\"344\">1. <strong data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"344\">Purpose: Information Exchange<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"422\">Both chemical signaling and vocalization are used to <strong data-start=\"398\" data-end=\"415\">send messages<\/strong> about:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"559\">\n<li data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"463\">\n<p data-start=\"425\" data-end=\"463\">Danger (e.g. predators, fire, disease)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"464\" data-end=\"488\">\n<p data-start=\"466\" data-end=\"488\">Mating or reproduction<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"514\">\n<p data-start=\"491\" data-end=\"514\">Territory or boundaries<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"559\">\n<p data-start=\"517\" data-end=\"559\">Resource location (food, water, nutrients)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"561\" data-end=\"605\">2. <strong data-start=\"569\" data-end=\"605\">Sender \u279c Signal \u279c Receiver Model<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"606\" data-end=\"644\">Both follow a <strong data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"643\">communication model<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"796\">\n<li data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"701\">\n<p data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"701\"><strong data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"657\">Sender<\/strong> produces the signal (plant, fungus, animal)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"702\" data-end=\"760\">\n<p data-start=\"704\" data-end=\"760\"><strong data-start=\"704\" data-end=\"714\">Signal<\/strong> travels through a medium (air, water, ground)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"761\" data-end=\"796\">\n<p data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"796\"><strong data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"775\">Receiver<\/strong> detects and responds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"_tableContainer_16hzy_1\">\n<div class=\"_tableWrapper_16hzy_14 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<table class=\"w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)\" data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"1043\">\n<thead data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"853\">\n<tr data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"853\">\n<th data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"814\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Communication<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"814\" data-end=\"823\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Sender<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"823\" data-end=\"832\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Signal<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"832\" data-end=\"841\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Medium<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"841\" data-end=\"853\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Receiver<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"910\" data-end=\"1043\">\n<tr data-start=\"910\" data-end=\"966\">\n<td data-start=\"910\" data-end=\"924\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Voice\/Sound<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"933\">Animal<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"933\" data-end=\"946\">Sound wave<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"946\" data-end=\"958\">Air\/water<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"958\" data-end=\"966\">Ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"967\" data-end=\"1043\">\n<td data-start=\"967\" data-end=\"978\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Chemical<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"978\" data-end=\"1002\">Plant, fungus, animal<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1013\">Molecule<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"1013\" data-end=\"1030\">Air\/soil\/water<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"1030\" data-end=\"1043\">Receptors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"sticky end-(--thread-content-margin) h-0 self-end select-none\">\n<div class=\"absolute end-0 flex items-end\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4 data-start=\"1045\" data-end=\"1078\">3. <strong data-start=\"1053\" data-end=\"1078\">Specialized Receptors<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1182\">In both cases, the <strong data-start=\"1098\" data-end=\"1110\">receiver<\/strong> must have <strong data-start=\"1121\" data-end=\"1146\">specialized receptors<\/strong> to detect and interpret the signal:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1183\" data-end=\"1306\">\n<li data-start=\"1183\" data-end=\"1214\">\n<p data-start=\"1185\" data-end=\"1214\">Ears detect sound vibrations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1306\">\n<p data-start=\"1217\" data-end=\"1306\">Cells or nerve endings detect specific <strong data-start=\"1256\" data-end=\"1269\">molecules<\/strong> (like pheromones or fungal signals).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"1308\" data-end=\"1345\">4. <strong data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1345\">Direction and Specificity<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1520\">\n<li data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1407\">\n<p data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1407\"><strong data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1357\">Sound<\/strong> can be directional (e.g., bird call from a tree).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1408\" data-end=\"1520\">\n<p data-start=\"1410\" data-end=\"1520\"><strong data-start=\"1410\" data-end=\"1423\">Chemicals<\/strong> can also be directional via <strong data-start=\"1452\" data-end=\"1465\">gradients<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"1469\" data-end=\"1490\">localized release<\/strong>, especially in soil or water.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"1527\" data-end=\"1581\">Examples of Chemical Signaling (Plants &amp; Fungi)<\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"1583\" data-end=\"1636\">\u25b8 <strong data-start=\"1590\" data-end=\"1614\">Mycorrhizal Networks<\/strong> (aka \u201cWood Wide Web\u201d)<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1877\">\n<li data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1687\">\n<p data-start=\"1639\" data-end=\"1687\">Fungi form underground networks with tree roots.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1688\" data-end=\"1776\">\n<p data-start=\"1690\" data-end=\"1776\">Trees <strong data-start=\"1696\" data-end=\"1717\">release chemicals<\/strong> (e.g., sugars, defense compounds) into the fungal network.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1877\">\n<p data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1877\">Fungi <strong data-start=\"1785\" data-end=\"1803\">send nutrients<\/strong> and also <strong data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1838\">relay warning signals<\/strong> about pests or drought to other trees.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"1913\">\u25b8 <strong data-start=\"1886\" data-end=\"1913\">Plant-to-Plant Warnings<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"2143\">\n<li data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"2022\">\n<p data-start=\"1916\" data-end=\"2022\">A damaged plant (e.g., eaten by caterpillars) releases <strong data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2001\">volatile organic compounds<\/strong> (VOCs) into the air.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2023\" data-end=\"2143\">\n<p data-start=\"2025\" data-end=\"2143\">Nearby plants detect the VOCs and <strong data-start=\"2059\" data-end=\"2090\">activate their own defenses<\/strong> (like producing bitter chemicals or growing faster).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2150\" data-end=\"2197\">Examples of Chemical Signaling (Animals)<\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2220\">\u25b8 <strong data-start=\"2206\" data-end=\"2220\">Pheromones<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"2221\" data-end=\"2472\">\n<li data-start=\"2221\" data-end=\"2275\">\n<p data-start=\"2223\" data-end=\"2275\">Ants leave <strong data-start=\"2234\" data-end=\"2253\">chemical trails<\/strong> for others to follow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2276\" data-end=\"2344\">\n<p data-start=\"2278\" data-end=\"2344\">Mammals may release pheromones to attract mates or mark territory.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2345\" data-end=\"2472\">\n<p data-start=\"2347\" data-end=\"2472\">Humans even release subtle chemical cues that affect others\u2019 behavior (e.g., sweat-related pheromones, though still debated).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2479\" data-end=\"2513\">So, How Is It \u201cLike Voice\u201d?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2514\" data-end=\"2587\">Think of <strong data-start=\"2523\" data-end=\"2586\">chemical signaling as the biochemical equivalent of talking<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2588\" data-end=\"2857\">\n<li data-start=\"2588\" data-end=\"2677\">\n<p data-start=\"2590\" data-end=\"2677\">Instead of vibrating air with vocal cords, the organism releases <strong data-start=\"2655\" data-end=\"2677\">molecular &#8220;words.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2678\" data-end=\"2752\">\n<p data-start=\"2680\" data-end=\"2752\">Instead of eardrums, the receiving organism uses <strong data-start=\"2729\" data-end=\"2752\">chemical receptors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2753\" data-end=\"2857\">\n<p data-start=\"2755\" data-end=\"2857\">Both are forms of <strong data-start=\"2773\" data-end=\"2785\">language<\/strong>\u2014just with different alphabets (molecules instead of sound frequencies).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>From the album &#8220;<a href=\"\/songwriter\/tag\/sound-sound\/\">Sound Sound<\/a>&#8220;<\/h3>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/membrane.com\/global_warming\/\">The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp3 Chemical-Signaling-Best-Of.mp4 Chemical-Signaling.mp3 Chemical-Signaling.mp4 Chemical-Signaling-intro.mp3 [Verse 1] Pheromones (Human moans) Receptors (Transmitters) [Chorus] Mark my words (Mark my territory) Here&#8217;s the story (Words, molecular) [Bridge] &#8230; spectacular&#8230;. (for sure) Future! [Verse 2] Welcome&#8230; (To the Wood Wide Web) Come to know &#8220;how come?) (The flow the ebb) [Chorus] Mark my words (Mark my territory) Here&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9,14],"tags":[4137],"class_list":["post-44578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4d-music","category-daniel","category-lyrics","tag-sound-sound"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44578"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44588,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44578\/revisions\/44588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}