Float Free

Quicksand Myth Debunked: You Can Float Free

The researchers simulated a quicksand pit in the lab and placed an aluminum ball of greater density than the quicksand on top of the pit. The ball didn't sink until the researchers began to shake the pit, simulating movement and turning the mixture of sand and water more liquid. When they did this, the ball sank right to the bottom.

But when they used an aluminum ball with a density equal to the human body, which is less than the density of quicksand, they found it impossible to sink the ball, no matter how hard they shook the pit.

I'd feel a lot better about it if they had jumped in themselves and demonstrated how it is done, an aluminum ball doesn't do it for me.

If you ever get stuck in quicksand though, you might want to give their advise a try. Even if you don't (get stuck in quicksand), it's an interesting read.