> We could request money to finally count the number of grains of sand on earth. <
I’m in. Unless I’m missing something, it should take about a month to get a decent estimate.
Step 1. Make a list of all the major beaches. Estimate their sand volumes: length x width x depth. Get the depth info. by calling a local guy.
Step 2. Count how many grains of sand are in, say, one cubic inch of beach sand.
Step 3. Multiply.
Step 4. Go on verification trips. Visit first-world resort beaches. Stay in luxury hotels only.
As I said earlier, it should take about a month to do the math. But we should apply for a five-year grant because of Step 4.
Oy, and there’s also the many, many preliminary conferences at worldwide locations to come up with the international standards that define the acceptable size and composition parameters for a “grain of sand”.