It's the Trees. It's always been the trees.

 

Considering all the little feet and claws running around the earth, it is a good thing the planet isn’t ticklish.

 

        Imagine the trees as curb feelers, keeping the world from scraping against the moon.  Or maybe they are nerve endings, constantly sending signals to the core with respect to its relationship with the atmosphere.

 

        Then again, they could be a living GPS.  The planet’s own way of staying on course.  The intelligence we’re searching for in space…  we’re standing on it.