Ancient ‘star dune' evidence isn't missing. It's been hiding in plain sight, radar reveals

Across sandy deserts, tall star dunes with pyramid shapes have fascinated scientists due to their formation and mysterious absence in the geological record. A recent study of a star dune in the Sahara Desert has uncovered surprising information about its age and growth, suggesting that evidence of star dunes may have been overlooked. Radar scans and sand analysis revealed that the dune’s oldest part dates back 13,000 years, while most of its growth occurred over the past 1,000 years. The study also found that the dune is migrating at a rate of about half a meter per year, which could impact infrastructure projects in the area.