Ever wondered about the chemical composition and properties while playing or working with sand? Though it might sound a bit technical, understanding its chemical backdrop is pretty easy. Using some easy comparisons and examples, you can very well grasp the category of sand. So, let’s contemplate if sand is a pure substance. Is it a…
When one first notices sand, on a beach, roadside or desert, the common observation is that it is much grainier and loose than other types of mud. The particles slip easily through fingers and differ in terms of color. This leads us to the question – are all these fragments unique, or is sand a…
Every time wintertime rolls around; you start to worry a little bit. Even though you would like to stay indoors, you may occasionally need to go outside. Walking on ice and snow is difficult. How can it be made easier and safer? Let’s begin by asking, does sand melt ice and snow? Driving or walking…
Who doesn’t love taking a stroll on a sandy beach? Not only is sand fun to walk and play on, but it is also the principal component in the making of glass. But have you ever wondered if it is a potential fire hazard? How can we ensure that we are safe around sand? In…
Sand is more than something that blankets beaches and deserts. It is ubiquitous, much more diverse and, an authentic relic. As Rachel Carson, the American marine biologist once quoted, “In every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is a story of the Earth.” So, what is sand? Where does sand come from? What’s…
We watch documentaries and read a plethora of materials on the history of animal and plant species every single day. But how did humans discover the origins of these animals and plant species? It was with the help of fossils. Paleontologists have been able to harness vital information from fossils to give us clues to…
Wind erosion is a natural process where the soil is moved, carried, and transported by the force of the wind from one place to another. In order to be transported, the threshold velocity of the wind is needed. However, this depends on the size, weight, and wetness of the soil particles. Soils are composed of…
Soil is the part of the earth’s surface comprised of disintegrated rock and humus that provides the medium for plant growth. The development of soil takes time, between hundreds and thousands of years, and consists of diverse materials which are both inorganic and organic. The inorganic materials are the non-living aspects of the soil such…