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MIT Technology Review0 Hot0 comments2 min read
Plants appear to detect the patter of falling rain
MIT engineers have discovered the first direct evidence that plant seeds can sense sounds in nature. Rice seeds submerged in shallow water germinated 30–40% faster when exposed to vibrations from water droplets hitting the surface. The mechanism involves sound waves dislodging gravity-sensing organelles called statoliths, which signal seeds to sprout. This may provide a biological advantage: seeds close enough to detect rain sounds are likely at an optimal depth for growth.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/06/23/1138288/plants-appear-to-detect-the-patter-of-falling-rain. 8 Sync News only summarizes and links out; content copyright belongs to the authors and original sources.
