This story shows that we live in a more complex and connected world than most of us think and experience: Plants can “hear” water. According to researchers at The University of Western Australia, plants have the ability to sense sound vibrations from running water moving through pipes or in soil. This ability to “hear” allows them to locate water and move their roots towards the source. The study also revealed that plants do not like certain noises and will move away from particular sounds. The results may also explain why tree roots wind up growing into sewer pipes.