sand

From 1946, NSW planted South African bitou bush to stabilise coastal sand dunes; decades later it had spread along 46% of the state’s coastline and threatened native ecosystems

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From 1946, NSW planted South African bitou bush to stabilise coastal sand dunes; decades later it had spread along 46% of the state's coastline and threatened native ecosystems

Representative Image (AI-generated) A plant introduced with a practical purpose along the New South Wales (NSW) coast eventually became a major environmental weed. South African bitou bush was deliberately planted along the NSW coastline between 1946 and 1968 to help stabilise sand dunes, according to the NSW Environment and Heritage department. The fast-growing shrub later … Read more

California thieves steal Nvidia-branded trailers expecting expensive AI hardware; find 40,000 pounds of sand instead

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California thieves steal Nvidia-branded trailers expecting expensive AI hardware; find 40,000 pounds of sand instead

Two Nvidia-branded trailers belonging to autonomous-trucking company PlusAI were stolen from outside its warehouse in Fremont, California, on September 23, 2026. The trailers were associated with PlusAI’s work with Nvidia on autonomous-driving technology, but instead of carrying GPUs, servers or other expensive AI equipment, each contained about 20,000 pounds of sand. The pair therefore carried … Read more

Engineers dredged 500,000 cubic yards of sand from the Mississippi River and used it to build seven islands; six years later, the $25 million McGregor Lake project has restored 270 acres of aquatic habitat and protected 22 acres of wetlands

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Engineers dredged 500,000 cubic yards of sand from the Mississippi River and used it to build seven islands; six years later, the $25 million McGregor Lake project has restored 270 acres of aquatic habitat and protected 22 acres of wetlands

For years, sand dredged from the Mississippi River was removed to keep one of America’s most important waterways navigable. At one restoration site, engineers found another use for that material, building islands. The US Army Corps of Engineers has completed a $25 million habitat restoration project at McGregor Lake in Wisconsin, where about 500,000 cubic … Read more

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

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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

In 2020, a New Orleans project began crushing bottles into sand; six years later, it has diverted 12 million pounds of glass to help rebuild shrinking coastal wetlands

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In 2020, a New Orleans project began crushing bottles into sand; six years later, it has diverted 12 million pounds of glass to help rebuild shrinking coastal wetlands

Representative Image (AI-generated) A bottle tossed away in New Orleans does not necessarily have to end its life in a landfill. A project launched in 2020 is giving discarded glass a second purpose; crushing bottles into sand that can be used in coastal restoration. Glass Half Full, founded by Tulane University students Franziska Trautmann and … Read more

Netherlands built a 9-km storm barrier to protect against floods; decades later, “sand hunger” began shrinking tidal flats

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Netherlands built a 9-km storm barrier to protect against floods; decades later, “sand hunger” began shrinking tidal flats

The Netherlands built one of the world’s most ambitious flood defences after the devastating North Sea flood of 1953. Completed in 1986, the 9-kilometre Eastern Scheldt Barrier was designed to protect hundreds of thousands of people while keeping the estuary open to tides and saltwater. But the engineering solution created an unexpected environmental consequence. By … Read more

In 2013, a UK beach began planting discarded Christmas trees to trap blowing sand; by 2026, the project had created 90 metres of new dunes that help defend homes from flooding

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In 2013, a UK beach began planting discarded Christmas trees to trap blowing sand; by 2026, the project had created 90 metres of new dunes that help defend homes from flooding

More than 2,000 Christmas trees were planted at St Annes beach in February 2026. (Photo: .visitstannes.info) Discarded Christmas trees are being used to help protect homes and businesses along the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, UK. Since the project began in 2013, old Christmas trees have been placed on St Annes beach to trap wind-blown sand … Read more

In 2021, Alabama students began placing discarded Christmas trees along Gulf Coast dunes to trap sand; each year about 200 students now add roughly 3,000 native plants around them

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In 2021, Alabama students began placing discarded Christmas trees along Gulf Coast dunes to trap sand; each year about 200 students now add roughly 3,000 native plants around them

Discarded Christmas trees Discarded holiday trees collected from living rooms across Alabama are finding a second life along the Gulf of Mexico, forming the foundation of a student-led coastal restoration campaign. Discarded Christmas trees collected from homes across Alabama are getting a second life along the Gulf of Mexico, helping form the base of a … Read more

Meet the loaches: Treasure hunters uncover centuries-old secrets from the Thames | World News

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Meet the loaches: Treasure hunters uncover centuries-old secrets from the Thames | World News

Just after midnight, when much of London is asleep, people quietly make their way down the slippery banks of the Thames, armed with headlamps and small shovels. They knelt in the thick mud under bridges and beside ancient embankments, sifting through the silt in search of forgotten fragments of history. Some people have found Roman … Read more