Rain does more than soak the ground. For some seeds, it may also act like an alarm clock. MIT engineers have found evidence that the sound of falling raindrops can speed up germination in rice seeds, ...

OSAKA, Japan >> An umbrella that muffles the sound of raindrops is gaining popularity among blind people and those who are highly sensitive to noise. Maruyasu Yougasa, a manufacturer in Osaka that ...

MORE than half of campers say the sounds of the outdoors help them get a better night’s sleep than if they were in their own bed. A poll of 1,000 people who often go camping revealed 56 per cent of ...

MIT researchers have found that rice seeds can detect the sound of rain, triggering germination up to 40% faster. The study, the first to provide direct evidence of seeds sensing natural sounds, shows ...