Be Not Afraid

You're Drowning in Quicksand

Why It Won't Happen: If you're a fan of the great outdoors, you might find yourself in quicksand—it's mostly likely to form near bogs—but you probably won't drown. A recent study published in the science journal Nature found that it's "impossible for a human to be drawn into quicksand altogether." Our density keeps us from going under.

But If It Does: The trick, says Gary Calkins of Texas Parks and Wildlife, who has worked around quicksand for almost two decades, is to "shuffle walk" to safety, wading through the muck (which he says will feel more like freshly poured concrete than a swimming pool) until you reach firm ground. The less moving around you do, the better.