Why some sand dunes ‘sing’ while most stay silent: The science behind the mysterious hum

From tales of music by ghosts to scientific inquiry, the phenomenon of singing sands intrigues researchers. Investigations show how specific dune characteristics influence sound production, linking ancient mysteries to granular mechanics and acoustics, revealing why only some dunes resonate. (Representational/Unsplash)

There are accounts of odd noises coming out of some of the sand dunes dating back to ancient times. During his journey through the Gobi Desert in Asia in the 13th century, Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo wrote about music made by ghosts, which he believed were desert spirits. It is an extraordinary natural … Read more