Deserts and their surprising secrets
Chapter 1
The green Sahara
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Chapter 2
The mystery of singing dunes
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Chapter 3
Master class in desert survival
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Chapter 4
Hidden waters and ancient engineering
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YOUR GOAL
Master of Deserts and their surprising secrets
Ch 2 · The mystery of singing dunes
Fun Fact
Singing sand frequency: Most singing dunes hum at a low frequency of about 450 hertz, which sounds remarkably like a cello's low G-note.
Glossary
singing sand (noun)
Sand that emits a musical or humming sound when disturbed by wind or human footsteps. In 2005, physicist Bruno Andreotti analyzed this acoustic phenomenon among the shifting dunes of Morocco.
Sand that emits a musical or humming sound when disturbed by wind or human footsteps. In 2005, physicist Bruno Andreotti analyzed this acoustic phenomenon among the shifting dunes of Morocco.
Quiz
Near which ancient Silk Road city in China can you visit the famous Mingsha Shan 'Singing Sand Dunes'?
Quiz
What acoustic instrument does the low-frequency drone of a singing sand dune sound most like?
Quiz
Which famous historical explorer wrote about hearing ghostly spirits singing in the sands of the Gobi Desert?
Quiz
What is the scientific term for the synchronized vibration of sand grains that amplifies the dune's sound?
Quiz
What specific physical trait must sand grains possess to produce a singing sound?
Quiz
Why will a singing sand dune stop singing if the weather becomes humid or rainy?