by Ariel Sim and Zahra Ebrahim

December 5, 2024

Picture the last time you were immersed in nature. If you close your eyes, maybe you can tap into what it looked like, sounded like, even how it smelled. In your mind’s eye, maybe this picture has you on a trail, surrounded by forest and brush, rocks covered in moss, and decomposing logs that were once majestic trees amidst the forest canopy. You may have even thought how nice it was to be alone, to have some quiet away from the frenetic rush of urban life. We escape into nature seeking solitude, and breathe a sigh of relief at the sense of peace we feel when there’s “nothing” around.

But the truth is that these natural worlds are metropolises in their own right, hubs of more than human life — where hundreds, sometimes thousands of species of flora and fauna are busily communicating with each other. They’re sharing news of changes in weather, passing resources through their networks and coordinating emergency responses to new pests, threats and toxins. They even share news of our approach, as we humans — unaware — wander their world.