Worm munch matters

Earthworms, which lack mouths, vocal cords, or ears, produce subtle sounds as they move and eat underground.

These sounds resemble soft, Velcro-like scrapes and can be recorded using sensitive microphones.

For example, a recording from Oxfordshire grassland captures the scraping noises of earthworms feeding on soil and decaying matter.

Such sounds were previously overlooked but now offer a new way to study the hidden world beneath our feet.

The article compares these sounds to familiar noises, like a laser or a buzz, to help readers visualize the unfamiliar.

While earthworms themselves do not make intentional sounds, their movements and feeding behaviors create vibrations that can be detected and analyzed.