![science surprises](../web_assets/tophead_surprises.gif)
![photo of hosts michael and mariko looking at sand](../web_assets/sci_surprise/408_surprise.jpg)
![wet, or dry?!](../web_assets/sci_surprise/408_title.gif)
Pour a mound of dry "magic sand" into a cup of water. Pour off the water, leaving the sand behind in the cup. The sand is still dry!
![why?](../web_assets/sci_surprise/title_why.gif)
The dry sand grains are actually coated with a water-repellant chemical. Therefore, the water doesn't adhere to all the little grains, like it would with normal sand. The sand feels just as dry as when it started