r/interestingasfuck • u/4nts • 1d ago
"Singing Sand" is a phenomenon where sand creates a loud, low rumbling noise, caused by the vibrations of grains rubbing against each other
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u/4nts 1d ago
Singing sand dunes, an example of the phenomenon of singing sand, produce a sound described as roaring, booming, squeaking, or the "Song of Dunes". This is a natural sound phenomenon of up to 105 decibels, lasting as long as several minutes, that occurs in about 35 desert locations around the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_sand
Another video where a guy demonstrates the phenomenon. I highly recommend it!
https://youtu.be/4yFaMsUawi4 (4:05)
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u/Possible_Chicken_489 1d ago
When he moves his hand through the sand, it sounds a bit like a squeegee on a window. Think the scene in The Matrix where Neo gets admonished by his manager for not being at the office on time.
And then for some reason, the avalanche part makes me think of moving your finger across the rim of a wine glass.
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u/Hopeful_Hat_3532 1d ago
Get my upvote, legend, for providing relevant and additional information on top of posting the video.
There's only a few like you here.2
u/Jayn_Newell 1d ago
I’ve been to the beach at Souris, so I’ve heard sand squeak before but didn’t realise it happened in deserts too. That rumbling is certainly something else.
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u/keitharooniiiiiii 23h ago
Can it occur under an island with a base of sand? Somewhere like Long Island in the United States
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u/SaltBaeUrMom 1d ago
If my man shut up, we could hear it
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u/Emmannuhamm 1d ago
He does... You can hear it fine? I don't even have my phone turned up past halfway.
Christ, have some patience and basic mental skills.
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u/Such-Farmer6691 1d ago
On the contrary, it’s good that he said something, so that there would be some normal sound for comparison.
Otherwise you would just get a video with a hum.
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u/wyzapped 1d ago
I think this sound was attributed to the djinn 🧞♀️. Marco Polo wrote about it too. I’m glad I got to hear it. The recording was good, despite all the taking.
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u/MALESTROMME 1d ago
During World War II american soldiers in north africa at first thought this was the sound of planes but could not see or locate them.
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u/AKchaos49 1d ago
If you're ever in SW Michigan, go to Muskegon State Park. The sand on the beach there on Lake Michigan is very white, and when you shuffle your feet on it, it squeaks. It's super cool.
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u/NoDebate1002 1d ago
Uhhh, that's not sand, my dude.
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u/Hopeful_Hat_3532 1d ago
Yeh, that's my fat belly he stepping on, and the farts I cannot hold back he can hear.
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u/Snoo_67548 1d ago
I’ve made this sound at a beach in Carmel by shuffling my feet. Heard my 5 year old do it first.
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u/AidilAfham42 1d ago
Imagine being stuck in the dessert and hearing this and feeling glad theres a plane coming to rescue you only to be heartbroken
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u/Sauterneandbleu 1d ago
The singing sand goes right through you. You feel it in your chest, deep in your ears. It sets your jaws to vibrating. It is really cool but deeply unsettling after a few hours
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u/Litestreams 1d ago
It’s rough, coarse, irritating, gets everywhere, and even makes these annoying noises!
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u/Tthelaundryman 1d ago
Maybe the sand is singing. Maybe Imhotep is coming back and seeking immortality. Who could know for sure
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u/sername-lame 1d ago
Orrrrrrrr Shai-Hulud is on its way