Eclipse of reason: debunking speculative anticipatory behavior in trees

Ariel Novoplansky, Hezi Yizhaq

Advancing plant behaviour research requires adherence to robust experimental designs, the formulation of alternative falsifiable hypotheses, sufficient replication, and stringent controls. These tenets safeguard the field from slipping into pseudoscience. A recent study by Chiolerio et al. (2025) claims that Picea abies trees collectively anticipate solar eclipses via electrome-based signalling. Despite widespread media attention, these claims rest on speculative interpretations and weak evolutionary assumptions, warranting critical scrutiny. We systematically evaluate the study’s core premises, demonstrating the absence of causal link between the reported electrical activity in the studied trees and the impending solar eclipse event, the absence of reliable environmental cues, and the implausibility of adaptive benefits for such supposed anticipatory behaviour. Instead, we demonstrate that the elevated electrical activity of the trees prior to the solar eclipse can be more parsimoniously attributed to weather-induced stimuli, such as rapid temperature shifts and nearby lightning strikes. Moreover, the proposed mechanisms of inter-tree communication and gravitational memory in the trees lack empirical support and theoretical grounding. The case serves as a cautionary example where enticing narratives overshadow the essential standards of scientific rigor, emphasizing the necessity for critical appraisal and methodological robustness in advancing the field of plant behaviour.