Articles for tag: sand dunes

The Physics of Sand Dunes That ‘Boom’ Like Thunder

The Physics of Sand Dunes That ‘Boom’ Like Thunder

Annette Uy

Imagine standing in the heart of a sun-scorched desert. The wind hushes, the world holds its breath, and suddenly, a deep, thunderous boom rolls across the sand—so startling and powerful, it seems as though the earth itself is speaking. This explosive sound isn’t a trick of your imagination or a distant storm. Instead, it’s a ...

Do Sand Dunes “Breathe”? The Marching Hills That Walk Across Highways

Suhail Ahmed

Every year, drivers in desert regions watch a strange, silent procession: hills of sand advancing across asphalt, swallowing guardrails and warning signs as if the road were a riverbed. The spectacle invites a deeper question that sounds almost mystical – do dunes, in some sense, breathe? Scientists say the answer is both yes and no, ...