Sir J. C. Bose is best known for his work on radio and microwave optics, and for his seminal work on plant physiology. He showed that plant tissues were as alive as animal tissues, and could respond to changes in their environments. His contributions to the field of remote wireless signalling and radio signal detection using semiconductor junctions are phenomenal. He invented
several apparatuses including a crystal radio detector and a horn antenna. 

Sir J. C. Bose developed a novel device called a crescograph, to detect and measure a plant’s response to different kinds of stimuli. Using this, he measured the changes in membrane potentials of plant cells in response to various stimuli like microwaves, chemical inhibitors, and temperature among other things. He showed that plants could feel pain, and that certain signals within
plant tissues were electrical in nature, and not chemical, as previously believed. 

Sir J. C. Bose has several accolades to his credit. He was a founding Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, and an avid writer, often regarded as the father of Bengali science fiction.