Sand on three islands south of Japan, on Iriomote, Hatoma, and Taketomi, all have the usual fragments of shell and rock but among all that, tiny cream-coloured stars can be seen, reports IFL Science.

"A closer look, however, reveals tiny star-shaped sand, the microscopic shells produced by the unicellular Foraminifera that wash up to the shore." Taketomi Island, Okinawa, Japan. Mobile menu ...