Adding some tunes to your garden may help your plants thrive, according to research by Italian scientists. When classical music was piped onto a Tuscany vineyard, positive effects on vine growth, including higher leaf area per vine, were observed.

A 2001 study also found that low-frequency sound benefits plants by activating enzymes, increasing cell-membrane fluidity and promoting DNA replication and cell cycling.

Indeed, music has many yet undiscovered effects on living creatures of all kinds. For instance, listening to music while exercising can boost your brain power, music can act as a powerful stress reliever and it’s even used as a form of therapy for a wide range of conditions, from brain injuries to learning disabilities to pain (including labor pain).

Just be careful if you choose to listen to music on an MP3 player. Listening to one for five minutes a day on full volume is enough to permanently damage your hearing. And if you like to listen to music online, check out my favorite source for free streaming music on the Web.

Wired June 28, 2007