The hunt for the origin of garnet crystals found on South Australian beaches took researchers thousands of kilometres and half a billion years back in time to a hidden Antarctic mountain range.
The planet contains myriad types of soil and ground cover, each with unique properties and sustainability requirements.
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Not all types of ground are the same and understanding how varied ground types react to environmental stresses is key to achieving true sustainability.
Sand dunes in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert can stretch for 100km.
mr.wijannarongk kunchit
Rock dust is only part of the story of soil. Living creatures, many of them too tiny to see, keep that soil healthy for growing everything from food to forests.
With smartphones as commonplace as towels and sunscreen in the beach bag, why not add coastal data collection to your list of holiday activities this summer? Look for the CoastSnap camera cradles.
Building a sandcastle is a response to the full beach environment as a collaborator.
People shout slogans during a protest in Jakarta against plans to evict 7,500 residents from Rempang island to make way for a Chinese-owned glass factory as part of an ‘Ecocity’ development.
EPA-EFE/MAST IRHAM
Sand is an excellent material to play with. It is versatile, widely available, open-ended and cheap. And you don’t need a fancy plastic mould to make something special.
Establishing the age of K'gari (Fraser Island) confirms it emerged before the reef, despite the climate being suitable for coral growth long before then.
The energy-intensive process of producing cement and concrete contributes significantly to global warming while depleting resources. Much more sustainable alternatives are being developed.
There’s a lot of science behind the natural forces that let this guy work his magic at the beach.
Victoria Pickering/Flickr
Over the past six months, tourists and locals have been shocked to see Byron’s famous Main Beach literally disappearing. Satellite imagery and local knowledge has revealed what’s going on.
A sand mine in Nepal. Growing urbanization and its need for concrete is fuelling a global sand crisis.
(Michael Hoffmann)