stackyFACTS
Science

What beach sand looks like under a microscope

HERE’S THE INTERESTING PART

Scooping up a completely boring handful of plain beige beach dirt reveals an incredible hidden chaotic wonderland up close. The tiny specks are actually highly shattered remnants of beautifully polished quartz, completely colorful eroded coral fragments, and perfectly tiny spiraled shells.

What beach sand looks like under a microscope
STACKY / Science
One discovery leads to another.

Keep exploring facts in this topic.

Science →
STACKY FOR IPHONE

A bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.

Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.

Download on the App Store
ONE MORE DISCOVERY?

Keep exploring

All in this topic →
Why beach sand follows you home
Science

Why beach sand follows you home

Beaches are essentially massive graveyards of pulverized shells and eroded boulders. We cheerfully spread towels out on this incredibly abrasive, coarse…

Discover more
The horse ancestor that was no bigger than a fox
Science

The horse ancestor that was no bigger than a fox

If you envision ancient horses thundering majestically across prehistoric plains, you need to radically adjust your expectations. Hyracotherium, the earliest…

Discover more
Ants have a combined global population estimated at twenty quadrillion, meaning their total biological mass is roughly equal to or greater than the biomass of all wild birds and mammals combined.
Science

Ants have a combined global population estimated at twenty quadrillion, meaning their total biological mass is roughly equal to or greater than the biomass of all wild birds and mammals combined.

Ants have a combined global population estimated at twenty quadrillion, meaning their total biological mass is roughly equal to or greater than the biomass of…

Discover more
Why your friends may be more popular than you
Science

Why your friends may be more popular than you

Network topology mathematically guarantees that your ego is going to take a hit. The Friendship Paradox reveals that on average, the people in your social…

Discover more
Thallium reliably burns with a distinct bright green flame
Science

Thallium reliably burns with a distinct bright green flame

This absurdly toxic element actively masquerades as incredibly boring grey metal until lit completely on fire. Then it violently exposes itself by burning…

Discover more
Storms sometimes make frogs and fish fall from the sky
Science

Storms sometimes make frogs and fish fall from the sky

Powerful atmospheric updrafts occasionally scoop up shallow water habitats, forcefully vacuuming up thousands of unfortunate aquatic creatures. These…

Discover more
StackyMore discoveries in the app
Download on the App Store