Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the way trees grow and adapt to their environment. By studying young poplar trees, they found that trees can sense their own shape and adjust their growth to stay upright. This internal sense, known as proprioception, was previously thought to exist only in animals. The scientists developed an experimental system to isolate proprioception in trees. They placed young poplar trees on a rotating platform inside a sphere with equal light from all directions, eliminating the usual directional signals from gravity and light. The trees were initially positioned horizontally, but as they grew, their stems curved upward, and then, when moved to the experimental apparatus, they slowly straightened back to a nearly straight shape. The researchers found that the trees used a specialized type of wood called tension wood to straighten themselves. Tension wood can generate pulling forces as it develops, acting like a contracting muscle. When it forms on one side of the stem, it pulls the stem upward, causing it to bend. However, when it forms on the opposite side, it produces a pulling force in the other direction, working against the initial curvature. This discovery reveals that trees have a sophisticated system for coordinating their growth, combining information about their surroundings with an internal awareness of their own shape. The ability to sense and correct their own shape is crucial for trees to regain an upright posture after environmental disturbances, such as powerful storms or landslides. The findings have significant implications for forestry and agriculture. By understanding how trees sense and adjust their shape, scientists may be able to select varieties that grow straighter, produce higher-quality wood, and are more resilient to extreme weather conditions. This knowledge could also help develop cereal crops that are less likely to fall over before harvest, reducing yield losses. The research highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding the complex ways plants interact with their environment. By combining expertise from different fields, scientists can uncover the remarkable capabilities of plants and develop new strategies for improving their growth and resilience.