Raindrops roll into 'sand balls' on arid slopes

Rolling down sandy slopes, raindrops progressively aggregate to form compact spherical structures.

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The fact

This little-known physical phenomenon illustrates the complex interaction between water, gravity and granular matter.

Studying these processes enriches understanding of desert geomorphological dynamics.

17 sources — click a link to read an article on the topic:

RFI

MIT Technology Review

Le Figaro

Grist

The Guardian Environment

Ars Technica

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#hydrologie #géomorphologie #physique

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Auto-synthesis from 17 media sources · identified on April 14, 2026

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