A photo from open sources
Perhaps the most mysterious place in California is called Death Valley. On its territory quite strange and inexplicable phenomena, one of which is independent the movement of stones followed by long tracks, leaving cracks in dry clay. For over five decades, these stone wanderings seriously perplex scientists around the world. The thing is, that no one actually saw the movement of stones, however there is no doubt that they are moving. Because the the fixed position of the stones changes over time. According to Brian Jackson, a NASA scientist who is studying this phenomenon for more than four years, nine kilogram stones with lightly glide on the ground, and this is at least abnormal. Jackson believes that the stones are at the bottom of a dried lake, the length of which is about 4.5 km and a width of 2 km. And if the stones were someone moved – there would be traces, but they are not. Group of young scientists decided to solve this puzzle. At the beginning of this summer, the group interns from the lunar department of NASA and the Academy of Planetary Sciences, headed to the west of the United States to study this phenomenon. Soon time they plan to publicize their verdict, but for now still inclined to stick to the theory that during the winter months, ice forms around the stones, which allows them slip through the frozen surface of the valley. Brian Jackson also confirmed that the valley during the winter is enough wet and cold to form ice in it. And this speaks of the fact that the stones could really slide on their own, changing place of one’s position. Solving the mystery of our planet, scientists try to understand more the conditions of existence in other worlds. Jackson is not only a talented scientist, he is also a co-author a recent study led by Ralph Lorenz from Johns Hopkins University. Their work is aimed at studying and comparing meteorological conditions in the Ontario region with the vast liquid hydrocarbon lake formed on the satellite of Saturn – Titans. Jackson is sure to unravel the most complex puzzles nature is very useful for science, because the most exciting discoveries happen where you initially have no idea what really going on!
Sergey Vasilenkov
NASA Stones Time
