PICTURE OF THE WEEK: Quicksand

Many people fear quicksand because they believe it's impossible to avoid or escape. It looks deceptively solid, so anyone can accidentally walk on it. And if you struggle, you’ll sink faster. So what can you do if you suddenly start to sink in quicksand? New research reveals that your best option is to float.

Despite the common belief that quicksand will result in drowning, scientists from the University of Amsterdam have discovered that humans will eventually float if they are caught in quicksand. That's because any object less dense than its surrounding substance will float, similar to the way an ice cube floats in a glass of water. Since humans are less dense than quicksand, we will float to safety.

Quicksand is made of saltwater, fine sand and clay. It is typically layered with sand on top of water. Because it looks like sand on the top, quicksand often surprises people. When someone disturbs quicksand by stepping in it, the layers mix and become very dense--similar to wet cement.

Despite the trapped feeling, buoyancy guarantees that you will float. It may take a long time to float free, but your safety is assured. According to the journal Nature, you can escape more quickly by resting on your back and moving your legs in small circles.

--Written by Katheryn Troyer

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