I have millions of ears but I can't hear a thing. What am I?

The riddle cleverly plays on the word "ear," which has two distinct meanings. While humans and many animals possess ears for hearing, the "ears" in this context refer to the seed-bearing part of the corn plant. Each stalk of corn typically produces one or two ears, and given the vastness of a cornfield, which can stretch for acres, it's easy to imagine millions of these ears standing tall, silent, and unable to perceive any sound.

Corn, also known as maize, is one of the most widely cultivated cereal grains in the world, with its origins tracing back to ancient Mesoamerica, specifically Mexico, thousands of years ago. It was a staple food for many indigenous civilizations, including the Mayans and Aztecs, who developed sophisticated agricultural techniques to grow it. Today, corn is not only consumed directly by humans but is also a primary feed for livestock, a key ingredient in numerous processed foods, and a source for biofuels like ethanol.

A single cornfield can contain tens of thousands of individual corn plants per acre, each bearing its characteristic ear. These ears are encased in protective husks, which are peeled back to reveal rows of kernels. The sheer scale of corn production globally means that countless "ears" are harvested each year, making the cornfield an apt and imaginative answer to the riddle, highlighting a fascinating aspect of this ubiquitous agricultural crop.