Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Advanced search. Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature. Download PDF. Experiments show that humans do not sink all the way into shifting sands.
You have full access to this article via your institution. A plastic toy, like a person, isn't dense enough to sink entirely into a mass of quicksand. But scientists have not tired of disproving the myth. Daniel Bonn's quest to recreate. References 1 KhaldounA. Authors Roxanne Khamsi View author publications. Additional information University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Related links Related links Related external links How quicksand works What is quicksand?
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If they were of density equivalent to a human they did sink, but never completely, only half way. This is really when quicksand can be dangerous. The quicksand effect means that falling into a silo full of grain can often be fatal Credit: Getty Images.
They tested samples from the shores of a lagoon in north eastern Brazil. They found that bacteria formed a crust on the top of the soil, giving the impression of a stable surface, but when stepped on the surface collapsed. Dry quicksand, however, is another matter entirely. The quicksand effect means that falling into a silo full of grain can often be fatal.
In a case report was published telling the tale of a man who fell into a grain store late one evening on a farm in Germany. By the time the firefighters were able to establish which of eight tanks he was in, the grain was up to his armpits and acting according to the classic idea of quicksand, was dragging him down. Each time he exhaled, the volume of his chest reduced, causing grain to rush to fill the gap and making it progressively harder for him to breathe.
Humans and animals typically float in water, so if you are standing upright, the furthest you'll sink in the quicksand is waist-deep. If the quicksand is near a river or coastal area, you can still drown the old-fashioned way when the tide comes in, but you won't suffocate with a mouthful of sand or mud.
Dry quicksand presents its own special risks. There are reports of people, vehicles, and entire caravans sinking into it and being lost. Whether this has actually occurred is unknown, but modern science considers it possible.
In the movies, escape from quicksand often comes in the form of an outstretched hand, underwater vine, or overhanging branch. The truth is, pulling a person even yourself out of quicksand won't result in freedom. Removing just your foot from quicksand at the rate of 0.
The harder you pull on a branch or a rescuer pulls on you, the worse it gets! Quicksand is no joke and self-rescue isn't always possible. If you step into quicksand, you should:.
You don't need to visit a riverbank, beach, or desert to explore the properties of quicksand. It's easy to make a homemade simulant using cornstarch and water. Just mix:. If you're brave, you can expand the recipe to fill a kiddie pool.
It's easy to sink into the mixture. It's nearly impossible to suddenly pull free, but slow movements allow time for the fluid to flow! Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
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