The Astounding Pop Mech Show: Scientists Are Seriously Debating Whether Plants Are Conscious. 100%
By PopMech Editors57%
7/17/2026, 2:42:22 PM
Topics: Consciousness, Plants
Keywords: Vodcast
BS Summary: This article contains 15 faulty reasoning types, including Framing Effect, Confirmation Bias, and Appeal to Authority, with Attempt to Sell a Product or Service as the most egregious example at 91.1% saturation with 82 hits. Analysis detected 507 faulty-reasoning hits from 90 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 100% and a BS Rank of 100% (78 of 17,020 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 99.50% of the article peer group.
What if consciousness isn't just a human trait?
Scientists are uncovering surprising evidence that plants can sense, communicate, and adapt in ways that are prompting a fresh debate about the nature of consciousness.
This theory is explored more deeply in a new Pop Mech story called “We May Be Surrounded by Trillions of Conscious Beings, Research Suggests—And They Aren’t Human.”
Watch the full episode above now, and check out more installments of “The Astounding Pop Mech Show.”
Confirmation Bias
57.8%Confirmation Bias
OverallThis article
57.8%AuthorPopMech Editors
3%PublicationPopular Mechanics
3.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Anchoring Bias
0%Anchoring Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.8%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Availability Heuristic
27.8%Availability Heuristic
OverallThis article
27.8%AuthorPopMech Editors
2.2%PublicationPopular Mechanics
2.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Representativeness Heuristic
0%Representativeness Heuristic
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Hindsight Bias
0%Hindsight Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.2%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Overconfidence Bias
27.8%Overconfidence Bias
OverallThis article
27.8%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.3%PublicationPopular Mechanics
2.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Framing Effect
81.1%Framing Effect
OverallThis article
81.1%AuthorPopMech Editors
5.3%PublicationPopular Mechanics
3.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Loss Aversion
0%Loss Aversion
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Status Quo Bias
0%Status Quo Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Sunk Cost Effect
0%Sunk Cost Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Optimism Bias
0%Optimism Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
2.4%PublicationPopular Mechanics
3.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Pessimism Bias
0%Pessimism Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.4%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Negativity Bias
30%Negativity Bias
OverallThis article
30%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Self-Serving Bias
0%Self-Serving Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Fundamental Attribution Error
0%Fundamental Attribution Error
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Actor-Observer Bias
0%Actor-Observer Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
In-Group Bias
0%In-Group Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
0%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Halo Effect
0%Halo Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.4%PublicationPopular Mechanics
2.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Horn Effect
0%Horn Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
0%Dunning-Kruger Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Recency Bias
0%Recency Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Primacy Effect
0%Primacy Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.3%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Blind-Spot Bias
0%Blind-Spot Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Ad Hominem
0%Ad Hominem
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Straw Man
0%Straw Man
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.3%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Authority
42.2%Appeal to Authority
OverallThis article
42.2%AuthorPopMech Editors
7%PublicationPopular Mechanics
5.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
False Dilemma
27.8%False Dilemma
OverallThis article
27.8%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.5%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Slippery Slope
0%Slippery Slope
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Circular Reasoning
0%Circular Reasoning
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Hasty Generalization
30%Hasty Generalization
OverallThis article
30%AuthorPopMech Editors
3.7%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Red Herring
0%Red Herring
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Bandwagon
30%Bandwagon
OverallThis article
30%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.4%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Emotion
0%Appeal to Emotion
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
3.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Begging the Question
8.9%Begging the Question
OverallThis article
8.9%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.9%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Post Hoc (False Cause)
0%Post Hoc (False Cause)
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
2.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Tu Quoque
0%Tu Quoque
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Burden of Proof
0%Burden of Proof
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Appeal to Nature
0%Appeal to Nature
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Composition/Division
0%Composition/Division
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Anecdotal
0%Anecdotal
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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No True Scotsman
0%No True Scotsman
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Ambiguity (Equivocation)
27.8%Ambiguity (Equivocation)
OverallThis article
27.8%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.4%PublicationPopular Mechanics
2.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Gambler’s Fallacy
0%Gambler’s Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Middle Ground
0%Middle Ground
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Personal Incredulity
0%Personal Incredulity
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Special Pleading
0%Special Pleading
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Genetic Fallacy
0%Genetic Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Unattributed Quote
0%Unattributed Quote
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Quote-first Misdirection
30%Quote-first Misdirection
OverallThis article
30%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.9%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Biased Writer Voice
42.2%Biased Writer Voice
OverallThis article
42.2%AuthorPopMech Editors
7.7%PublicationPopular Mechanics
6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Indoctrination
8.9%Indoctrination
OverallThis article
8.9%AuthorPopMech Editors
1.1%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Politically Left Leaning Bias
0%Politically Left Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
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Politically Right Leaning Bias
0%Politically Right Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorPopMech Editors
0%PublicationPopular Mechanics
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
91.1%Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
OverallThis article
91.1%AuthorPopMech Editors
8%PublicationPopular Mechanics
4.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
90 words analyzed.
Analysis
Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.