Posted in Nevada Nature September 19, 2016 by Aleza

There’s A Strange Phenomenon In Nevada And It’s Too Weird For Words

There’s a spot in Nevada where rocks of all shapes and sizes seem to move by themselves. They slide along a smooth valley floor leaving behind long trails, all without intervention from humans or animals.

This strange phenomenon is no longer a mystery, but it was the subject of study by researchers, even NASA, for more than 100 years.

A researcher first documented this strange phenomenon in 1915 at Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park. Over the years, there have been many theories about the complete unknown of the rolling stones’ movement, ranging from scientific hypothesis to the paranormal.

The most substantial theory claimed that strong winds and a muddy playa floor caused the movement.

Others argued that the area’s winds were too heavy to move the stones, leading researchers on a hunt for similar occurrences at other locations such as Little Bonnie Claire Playa.

Research continued for many years on this widely-known strange phenomenon. In 2013, NASA sent a team of Lunar and Planetary Sciences Academy (LPSA) students at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. to research the Racetrack and Bonnie Claire playas.

Thanks to technological advancements, researchers are no longer stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to this strange phenomenon.

A team of geologists observed the rocks move in December 2013 using time-lapse digital imagery. What did they see? The footage shows the rocks sailing in the wind upon thin ice panels that float in winter ephemeral ponds.