Devices that conceal unwanted noises are the next frontier in advanced toilet technology. Would you like some peaceful birdsong, or perhaps a burst of artillery fire? Donna Burke, who moved to Japan ...

Step into any public restroom stall in Japan and you’re likely to be enveloped in a soundscape. No, not that kind. It’s the babble of running water, perhaps peppered with cheerful tweets and birdsong, ...

For years, we’ve been told to close the lid before flushing the toilet. It makes sense, since when the toilet flushes, it releases what's called a “toilet plume” or a spray of microscopic bacteria.