Moving Rocks on the Racetrack: Mystery Solved
Finally on December 21, 2013, the movement of the rocks on the Racetrack Playa was witnessed. The rocks were embedded in ice as wind moved the entire ice sheet:
Mystery of how rocks move across Death Valley lake bed solved
www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rocks-move-death-val...
Sadly, this disproves my "internal power source" theory proposed on April Fools Day in 2010 (of course there could be multiple mechanisms by which they move...).
Hopefully this will stop theft of the rocks by people hoping that rocks might have magical powers.
------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time someone has photographed the rocks moving on The Racetrack at Death Valley. Their secret... an internal power source! They glow as they move. Who knew?
Note the original upload date for my image and explanation was April 1, 2010 ("April Fools Day" here in the U.S.).
The USGS has mapped the rocks' movement for years, and the actual mechanism is believed to simply be high winds while the clay surface is wet and slick.
Using Differential GPS to Map the "Sliding" Rocks of Racetrack Playa
"So the evidence suggests that strong gusts of wind and swirling dust devils, in combination with a slick playa surface may set even the heaviest the rocks in motion. Off they go, scooting along downwind until friction slows them down and they come to rest. There the stones wait for the next time when slippery mud and wind spur them into action again."
www.profsurv.com/magazine/article.aspx?i=769#sthash.WI0c9...
Moving Rocks on the Racetrack: Mystery Solved
Finally on December 21, 2013, the movement of the rocks on the Racetrack Playa was witnessed. The rocks were embedded in ice as wind moved the entire ice sheet:
Mystery of how rocks move across Death Valley lake bed solved
www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rocks-move-death-val...
Sadly, this disproves my "internal power source" theory proposed on April Fools Day in 2010 (of course there could be multiple mechanisms by which they move...).
Hopefully this will stop theft of the rocks by people hoping that rocks might have magical powers.
------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time someone has photographed the rocks moving on The Racetrack at Death Valley. Their secret... an internal power source! They glow as they move. Who knew?
Note the original upload date for my image and explanation was April 1, 2010 ("April Fools Day" here in the U.S.).
The USGS has mapped the rocks' movement for years, and the actual mechanism is believed to simply be high winds while the clay surface is wet and slick.
Using Differential GPS to Map the "Sliding" Rocks of Racetrack Playa
"So the evidence suggests that strong gusts of wind and swirling dust devils, in combination with a slick playa surface may set even the heaviest the rocks in motion. Off they go, scooting along downwind until friction slows them down and they come to rest. There the stones wait for the next time when slippery mud and wind spur them into action again."
www.profsurv.com/magazine/article.aspx?i=769#sthash.WI0c9...