Built on Sand

How a small Mexican border town transformed itself into the dental tourism capital of the world, where dental care costs up to 80% less than what it might cost in the United States. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole wee ...  Show more

Idaho was the first state to slap a slogan on a license plate, “Idaho Potatoes,” which may not seem like a big deal, but it turns out this idea would end up having outsized consequences, and not just for Idaho. Because what started in one state would soon spread. And when it did, ...  Show more

From Lawrence of Arabia to Star Wars via tales of intrepid adventurers traversing lonely sand-swept landscapes, deserts have always had a powerful pull on the popular imagination. But if a desert is full of sand, where did all that sand come from in the first place? That is wh ...

Des Saoudiens qui achètent du sable... ça sonne un peu comme des Finlandais qui achèteraient de la neige !

Pourtant, ce pays du Golfe se livre bien à ce genre d'achats...

En rade de sable

On a peut-être tendance à l'oublier... mais le sable ne sert pa ...

Sand, we’re beginning to realize, is a non-renewable resource - and we are consuming it at a voracious pace. We use it in every construction project around the world and to create new land. And we’re wrecking the ecosystems we mine sand from.

Sand! We use it to make all kinds of things, from spectacular sandcastles to roads and bridges. But where does it come from? And why is the sand on so many beaches disappearing?

In this episode, Molly and co-host Leon head to the beach to explore the secrets of sand. ...