Sentience is a funny thing. We assess sentience through communication. If we can't have or observe communication we assume no sentience. Could this be wrong?

A tree with a lifespan of hundreds of years might communicate at a far different rate and in a far different manner than us. A tree might be sentient and we are just too dumb to notice.

And if a tree could be sentient, what about the planet? What about the universe. If the planet is an aware being, are we like fleas or lice on us? Or perhaps more like bacteria or a virus. Maybe the planet is heating up like us having a fever to rid of an irritant.

Just a different take on global warming.