Mia Kievy/iStock The whoosh of wind through a stretch of forest, birds calling to one another as they land on branches, the gurgle of a brook over a rocky bed — these are the kinds of sounds that are not only calming, but could have profound health and well-being benefits, according to a research review in the April 2021 . For the review, the researchers looked at 18 studies investigating the health benefits of natural sound; study participants listened to recordings of outdoor sounds in laboratory settings. Participants reported less stress and improved health outcomes, like decreased pain, after listening to recordings of nature sounds.