An expert in the polygraph and biocommunication, Cleve Backster related details of his research into electrical responses in plant life. His studies indicate that plants can sense human intent in a kind of "primary perception" that he compared to ESP. For instance, in experiments with bean sprouts --one group of sprouts was praised, the second group ignored, and the third sent negative thoughts-- the praised group grew much faster, he reported.

An experimenter can influence the results of a study. The studies which showed plants preferred classical music might've been the result of experimenter bias against rock music, he said. Backster's first plant experiment took place in 1966, and he's now spent over 40 years on this type of research, which he conducts out of a former DEA lab in San Diego, in an under-funded fashion.

He also discussed his work with the polygraph, and noted that newer polygraph equipment incorporates the use of a camera in its readouts.

Implant Update

First half-hour guest, consumer privacy advocate Katherine Albrecht reacted to a plan to store medical info under the skin, with a small chip. Medical alert bracelets already offer this function and are not invasive to the body, she commented. The website antichips.com has been set up to protest these types of implants, she added.