A microscopic look at why the world is running out of sand
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- Humans are using more sand than the Earth is naturally producing, and that’s a problem for the global construction industry. But it turns out that the usefulness of sand depends on the science of each tiny little grain. We went on a sand scavenger hunt to collect some samples, look at them under a microscope, and try to figure out why sand scarcity is such a problem.
Video: William Poor, Alex Parkin, Cory Zapatka
Additional Camera: Cynthia Gil, Tom Connors
Audio: Andrew Marino
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What else should we look at under our microscope?
Water molecules?
Do a video on the cosmos
Processors
MEMS 3D Gyroscope.
@@shoe7393 YES. I've been learning about processors and I think it would be cool to see one under a microscope
Thanos shouldve turned people to sand not dust.
It's all part of the bigger picture
Thanos Car
That's called "Forward thinking" :)
Would've helped with the resource problem
But then Thanos would risk killing the very people who could solve the sand (and other resources) shortage.
The fact that you made sand interesting for 7.5 minutes is quite an accomplishment. Well done!
What am I doing with my life? I just looked at Sand for 7 minutes
Similarly I'd make your feet feel interesting
"Oh what do you do for work?"
"I make small rocks outta big rocks."
Thats what mining is
@@voidhog1028
Well yes but actually *no*
@@flare_studios. well a good part of the process before you refine ores, yes lol.
Reminds me of the Flintstones. That rock quarry Fred worked at. :D
Breaking rocks in the hot sun, I fought the law and the law won.
Sand dealer: yeah this is 100 percent sand
Me: you sure your not a cop
@Sean Baker pro tip no one cares nerd
Sinpai but, does it really matter?
X_spectral I said that a month ago, but sure ur op
Danny M fuck off you don’t understand what edgy means
Haha. You're*
So young sand is edgy? Youth these days.
G O L D
They're rough, they're irritating, and they get everywhere!
New discovery: humans and sand have a lot in common
Blackfish and they need to wash out their vaginas
@@voivodadracula1936
Besides Sand having a hardness of 9 on the Moh's Scale and humans have a hardness of 7 at max
Sand Mafia is a real problem here in India. The disappearance of river beds have made the water in the river move with more velocity making it dangerous to dip in.
Why not call them sand pirates? Sounds more interesting
Debangsu Sarkar 'Mafia' word has reached more to the general population than words like pirates.... It only conveys as 'an organised body of criminals' here and has nothing to the international gangs.
Sand cartel?
@@sumanthkashyap8366 Come on, be a sport. I wasn't going into the symantics!
@@skag1881 I shouldn't have laughed at that xD
Anakin Skywalker will be pleased. He doesn’t like sand.
i was going to say that... F
I will be pleased too because I don't like sand
Was looking for this comment
Cliked on this video just to find if anyone has made this joke =)
This is where the fun begins
i wanna see the environmental impacts. broadening rivers by removing sand and potentially increasing sediment in those rivers can’t be too good for those ecosystems
Do u know if they r also digging up gold at the same ?
I grew up in rural China. I saw a mountain(about 200m tall from ground) in front of my villege disappeared gradually because people were mining rocks for construction.
Dang
Wow
Who paid for it?
Mexico
You guys are building many things, go figure.
I know this sounds weird but i wanna sort sand grains as a hobby
Can I join?
I believe a handful of sand graind are more then the amount of stars in the universe
Its Xxgrandproxx are you sure it wasn't a gallon of sand?
@@ItsXxgrandproxx I think you got that backwards. They are more stars in the universe then they are grains of sand on Earth.
Better to sift for gemstones.
Damnit now im worried about sand, add that to the listn
I'd like to see how the Saharan desert sand looks under a microscope.
I never thought sand would be interesting
You've clearly never seen the sand hot tub
It is
Moi!
@@rinitravichandran7022 Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth...
You. Are. Everywhere.
Can’t believe I just watched a video about a gut talking about sand and concrete
A gut that talks?
Wtf
Thats because if its well presented, all subjects can be interesting. You should look into the Sand Mafia!
wheres the stomack acid
Wait, are you talking to me?
6:59 sand particle wearing glasses
Amazing
He's like, "I'm just chillin.'
Underrated😂
6:58 . Is that sand wearing sunglasses . Like a Boss 😎
If you think about it, the stone age isn't over. It's just went microscopic.
Very smart observation.
that some kind of point of view, so technically we are in microscopic stone age not nano tech age 😑
Gabor Kecskes you do know that it was called the Stone Age because most early humans used stone tools in everyday life right?
@@mythic_omen948 I know buddy. Cool out.
@@martintorres378 Nerd hook
So they can grow diamonds but they cant make sand?
LAME! Well diamonds are worthless, while sand isn't
they can.. use your brain.
also "growing diamonds" is not hard.
did u even watch the video
Did you watch the video? 3:43
It may relatively more coarse than natural river sand, but there you have it, they can, just maybe often times it's not at the right cost than just buy sand from somewhere else. 4:30
🤣
*Anakin Skywalker’s heavy intense angry breathing increases*
I was talking to a trucker and asked him what is the choice load for a trucker he said sand and rocks it pay's well and its all local you get to come home every night
I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.
i knew i would find a starwars comment
from my point of view you should go away
Aww whatchu gonna do about it? Kill the younglings?
I clicked on this video just to find this comment
Sand may be coarse, but it's not as coarse as gravel!
"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere."
Yea you look like a softy
Clayton Frazier thank you for sharing.
No one understands it but me
Regardless of what you may see in movies or TV do not have sex on the beach. There should honestly be some kind of a public service announcement about this, tbh
+Soldier Jay taz Hello There!
Anakin would be very happy with this news.
Lol
Why is the world running out of sand?
Because I keep taking it home in my arse crack when I come home from the beach.
My bad guys.
Anyone else notice the one long grain at 6:59 that looks like it's got shades on?
He went on the coolest journey of all. 😎
Looks like a zircon. :)
OMG LOL
Haha now I can't unsee it
TJ West DiD yOu JuSt AsSuME iTs GeNdEr
It's pickle sand Rick!!!
1. Set up coral farms
2. Get parrot fish
3. Farm parrot fish poop (which is literally sand)
Coral is also running out
No No...parrot fish poop sand? Stop playing
@@nyakwarObat *smh* you are using the word stock incorrectly, a fish stock is an isolated fish group that can be self sustaining, meaning the numbers wont dwindle, but actually will either *INCREASE* or *STAY* the *SAME* (also sorry for not mentioning this, but this kind of farm wont have any parrot fish taken away; unless there is overpopulation)
@@nyakwarObat there are only certain types of fish that are captured and used for cooking and eating in massive amounts. Some places do eat parrot fish, but not enough to where it would off put that balance of you were to capture a breed a few for this cause. Though the idea is a bit flawed because of recourses. Don't get cocky bc 1 person couldn't answer your question. I actually considered you a decent person on YT looking for an argument, not a fight like most, but boy, was I wrong. It makes you look more childish than proving the fact that you were correct. 🙄
Bruh stfu
As a small correction, you mention that the round sand is used in concrete. The two types are commonly known as soft and sharp sand, only sharp sand is used in concrete as it can take more weathering and binds much stronger. The soft sand (round egdes) is used for things like laying brick as it has a softer smoother feel and can be worked much easier in smaller amounts, from a trowel for instance.
I’m an intern in a frac sand lab so I was mostly just watching this video to see how accurate it would be lol. You want different properties for frac sand than you do in concrete sand but Y’all did a good job here though 👍
Who else never seen a 'world running out of sand' article?
you think i didnt?
@@bg8224 I never said this video was false or there wasn't a problem, I just asked a simple question....jeez you people get so worked up over nothing😂😂😂😂
@@zanzy001 i saw it like 4 months ago
@@Enrique-peralta you know who else saw it 4 months ago?
I saw about a dozen
Better to say world is running out of sand of a certain type. The Sahara desert kind of shows there is plenty of sand.
But it cannot be used for binding with cement to make buildings.
Did u watch the video
Damn is that you in your pfp 🤤🤤
the 2 comments misunderstood the op's comment which is talking abouy the articles saying "we're running out of sand"
@@user-tzzglsstle585e38yep.... I did watch the video despite what a commenter said. I read the title and came up with a more accurate description of what the video was trying to say. The world is running out of certain types of sand. The title implies we are running out of sand, which we clearly aren't.
Excellent video: informative, interesting, entertaining and very well narrated. Well done!
Earth: I'm running out of sand
Hermitcraft: Same
Lol
*World is running out of sand*
*Randomly took sand for studies and never return it back*
oh guess I'll never know you name then
Very informative... Verge science is getting better with each upload.
Codetutor I thought the information was slowly presented, nice transitions and graphics but that made up most of the video
Codetutor very informative indeed. except.. why the f am i watching this..
Since you think it's so well made, could you tell me why the world is running out of sand? Because all I could hear was it was a problem locally, not globally. And the title clearly says the WORLD! So please enlighten me.
So Corey found quartz with corners in the quarry sand? That's my new "she sells seashells."
At 6:02 the camera appears to say sponge bob
OMG XD
"we are gonna *sand* them to New York"
Thank you Balázs
Very cool
wow
Came here looking for this
leave
so basically the sahara desert can't be of any help
Unfortunately
@@BavarianM fortunately*
@@alchris8041* Unfortunately
@@loadinsomething292 fortunately*
@@wangkevin3431 *Unfortunately
This is such a great channel. It really should be incorporated in everyones media diet.
This is a awesome video!
And I thought this was gonna be about silicon-based semiconductors.
We don't need perfect grains of silicon to build some IC
Yes but the title didn't specify what exactly (and why) was under the microscope.
That's beyond your mindset, buddy
Me too
I'm not sure if that's an aggresive comment or I'm missing its meaning xD
The video discusses sand for concrete, but another use of sand that is affected by the shortage of the right type of sand is beach renourishment. Beach renourishment requires the right sand in the right place or else it can erode too quickly. I think there are a couple cases in Florida where the wrong type of sand was used to replenish beaches and The new sand was eroded within a year or two. That's the only context in which I had heard about the sand shortage before, not sand used for concrete.
Melbourne beach in flordia is an example of this.
This two are actually conected, beaches were used as supply of construction sand both legally and illegally for decades, problem exist even today (hence existence of sand mafia), in my place government was discussing replenishing of the beaches while people were posting pictures of trucks driving away with illegally harvested sand.
I shall now continue my fascinating research on the wondrous properties of sand.
This is a happy moment. The happiest moment of my life.
Really? I seem to run into endless sand in my backpacks and shoes. Can I help?
Cool information 👍🏻
Just discovered verge sciene a couple of days ago and its rly rly good
Take a shot every time he says sand
Some people just want to watch the world burn
I’m on my 152nd shot so far...
@@69subscriberswithnocontent10 - 😄😄
I dint fe3l gudd
I took a hit from a joint every time he said it
...
That was yesterday, I just woke up. I missed work.
Everyone: Desert is taking over the world because of deforestation.
This video: Nah.
I hope this issue will not be buried
There's gonna be something called a sterilite, it's like a desert but with no sand just rocks and dirt. A sterilite is formed when a desert has no or little amount of sand, it is usually formed from desert floods which wash away the sand. Have fun seeing sterilites 🙂🙃🙂
Forestation is increasing and has been in all first world nations
I agree. This video is stupid
Anyone who believes the world is in danger of running out of sand in our lifetime, or even the lifetime of humans 1,000,000+ years from now.
Verge: sand is close to being extinct
Dessert: am i a joke to you
Xoticz desert sand isn’t what most people want
@@johnpetun1180 did you watch the video its said river sand
bustdown_brandoon yea
clearly didn't watch
LeGrandFromage Well, I did. And you can’t prove me wrong.
What an intresting youtube channel! Really strong content. Suscribed!
Take a rock
Smash the rock
Boom sand
(Smelt in furnace for glass)
That would make tiny jagged rocks.
Crush rocks
Error 2033
*Break stone to sand does not compute*
Hax
what's boom sand?
How about we look for replacements to concrete instead of looking for replacements to natural sand?
Ah yes, what a revolutionary idea, lets just replace the most useful and workable material on the planet 🙄
@@Vnifit You havent tried it yet.
+Matouš Hrdlička and you think material scientists and engineers haven't?
BUT HAVE YOU ?
@@Vnifit
Aren't we already trying to do the same with plastic? If necessary, a replacement has to be found
why dont they tweak the concrete recipe to work with Dubai's fine sand?
Because its not that simple....
Nothing is impossible with trillions of dollars
They will only do that if we are really out river sand as in zero river sand left humans will be desperate to find new building materials
Every Verge Science video has a video chat in it
You are awesome and really this is the way science should be taught in schools and colleges.
I love your work a lot......
Content is crisp and to the point.
Ayyy I was the 20th like
The camera at 6:01 is called Spongebob
Anakin Skywalker would be happy.
Unhappy you mean
@@darylteo9983 *happy
@@kaderpdi1982
*uNhappY
@@gooddog6745 *hAppy
@@kaderpdi1982 *uNhappY
I love how sand is just a whole bunch of tiny crushed things. Always blows my mind!
Fascinating. Educational. Thanks. This is something that I never considered previously.
I bet in the future we'll build using some kind of genetically engineered fungus grown bricks that biologically create incredibly strong carbon nano fibers and insulating closed cell foam. Or 3D print using spray foam and then coat it with some bacteria to create a wood like or chitinous surface with high tensile strength.
I mean concrete is just so primitive.
True. Technology is advancing everyday.
Not with all the trash talk about GMOs.
I could see that happening. I bet the future building techniques will be just like you stated.
That's years away, sounds like a waste of money tbh. This has been done for centuries and it won't be replaced any time soon.
Definitely decades away. But will probably happen before we "run out of sand".
Instead of worrying about concrete just make giant sand castles!
Wasting even more sand
Let’s make minecraft castles!
Omar Zaneefer, Nope. You can easily take the sand down and reuse it.
I'm so glad I learned this.
Thank you!
I 100 percent expected a reference to anakin skywalker
*bring on the sand puns*
Anakin's force ghost must be happy now
Samraj Agarwal lol
Its too coarse
Love these videos. High quality and to the point.
Anakin would be very happy to hear these news
Very informative 👍
Wow that was amazing, I never thought sand was this complex
6:02 I thought the label on the camera said spongebob
yes it is
Thanks for sharing. Wish, people would post needed info.
When I watch rhis kind of stuff gives me chills, but I also enjoy it
World: I'm running out of sand
Saudi Arabia: Hold my beer
Edit: It's a joke people, chill.
Highest percentage in the Sahara
I know, it was meant as a joke
where is the joke part?
Ok, tough crowd...
Bilal Rashid r/whoooooshhhhh
Sweet, concise, and high quality content from none other than the Verge. Keep it up!
Why is the camera called Spongebob? XD
very interesting thanks
Amazing!
Because everyone is keeping it in their pockets; POCKET SAND!
Gotta catch em all!
Transformers robots in these guys
Shshishaaa
Dale Gribble
Can't you just improve manufactured sand by weathering it artificially too?
Lxender you can but like they point out in the video it’s time consuming and can be not as profitable so companies don’t bother plus there is other issues like the mineral make up of the sand besides just its surface.
Not worth it.
the FBI called,
not cost effective.
It's only not cost-effective so long as other methods are officially sanctioned.
Anakin: [visible happiness]
You know we're in trouble when the government confiscate your hour glass?
Those animations and VFX are on point 👍 (can I hire that person for contract work? ;)
AuthenTech - Ben Schmanke No
they’re called Explainer Studios. It’s a subdivision of the Vox company. They are the same people who works with Vox videos.
AuthenTech - Ben Schmanke Go away
Why did people get triggered by this question
meliosexe Animations there are always people who will get triggered over something, especially online
The fact Verge Science has 2k views while Logan Paul gets millions is scary
it is not, there are more idiots than smart people.
@@evertchin the smart people can create this stuff. Everyone can watch. I dont feel more intelligent by watching this, I just feel I spend my time better
Wojciech Starczewski your profile picture is even more scary
@@Q974 Yeah thanks
@@globalwojtek Isnt that a sign of intelligence that ur actuslly interested in something like this not jake paul and so on ...
Interesting subject. I'm surprised someone went out if their way to tackle this
a lot to be say'd about this ...good video
I don't like sand, It's course, rough and irritating. And it gets everywhere!
-Anakin Skywalker
You just described my wife!
Corrupted Hero You literally hold a grudge against something that’s not even living...
@@v06261 Do you dislike a certain vegetable or snow or smell, do you " literally hold a grudge against it" or just dislike it?
I remember hearing this from a Minecraft episode...
Somewhere in the galaxy, Anakin Skywalker is smilling
In a book story
Anni!!!!!!!!!!! Why??????
,
unfortunately bursting your little bubble of safety, I must point out that he doesn't actually exist, sorry :/
Anakin: This... Does bring a smile to my face
I can point you to several small mountains of river sand here in N FL.
I don't even know how I got here.
Me niether
BREAKING NEWS: Darth Vader and Imperial fleet come to earth.
Every time we go to the store I have noticed its harder and harder to find sand for sell. The sand is flying off the shelves, so when we do find it we buy all of it that they have. We have about 9 gallons of sand now and we're not sure how long that will last us before we need to get more. It's so important to have as much sand as possible and that if we lose the ability to restock our sand we may end up in dire straits.
This video rocks!
Am I the only one that noticed the label on the camera saying Spongebob?
Nope
6:02
of course not silly :-)
SpongueBOBBU!
@@someoneunimportant4544 your someone important, thanks!
I was confused on how we could be running out of sand when desertification is increasing across the world and the ocean is so vast. Thanks for informing me!
What's under the superficial layer of sand of the Sahara?
Lake beds, river valleys, and the like.
The Sahara used to be very different than the sea of sand that now covers North Africa.
3:47 “Makin small rocks into big rocks” -Samual L. Jackson
Django Unchained
It's amazing to think about. I have been telling people about sand for a while now. Great information
Hi
Why you have one like
What's your name
I am an Indonesian boy live at Kuala Lumpur and I like your video
Hey reply me
verge science, the only part of verge worth keeping.
so when they say "you're a grain of sand" they mean i am very rare?
Scientist: we're running out of sand
Me: good, I hate sand it's coarse and gets everywhere
Almost got it, not quite tho
what about glass
same I don't like sand, it's coarse, rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.