SMRTR Science & EngineeringApr 22, 2026Scientific American

Plants can ‘hear’ rain coming, spurring them into action

SMRTR summary

Rice plants can actually "hear" rain before it reaches them — and it makes them sprout faster. Sound vibrations from falling raindrops jostle tiny structures inside plant cells, triggering germination 30–40% faster than normal, marking the first direct evidence that plants sense and respond to environmental sounds.

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