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What is dust made of? - Michael Marder

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TEDEd Animation

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Less than a tenth the size of an ant, a dust mite’s whole world is contained in the dusty film under a bed or in a forgotten corner. This realm is right under our noses, but from our perspective, the tiny specks of brilliant color blend together into a nondescript grey. What are these colorful microscopic particles? Michael Marder explores the science of dust.

How might specialists in forensics use the fact that different dust samples can be linked to particular neighborhoods or even houses?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Michael Marder
  • Director Mette Ilene Holmriis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Producer The Animation Workshop, Ian Otto
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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