Real-life rolling stones creep across Death Valley in California

[n2doc]

This picture reveals a bizarre event that is rocking the science world – the real-life rolling stones.


These amazing roaming rocks move in bizarre straight line patterns across the ultra-flat surface of Death Valley Photo: CATERS

Amid the eerie silence and the intense 50C heat of California's Death Valley roaming rocks appear to patrol the desert.

The rocks, some as heavy as 250lbs, move unaided in bizarre straight line patterns across the ultra-flat surface of the valley.

Scientists believe the pebbly phenomenon is caused by a melting-pot of specific weather conditions.

Studies suggest a combination of 90mph winds, ice formations at night and thin layers of wet clay on the surface of the desert all combine to push them along.

Photographer Mike Byrne, 40, has spent years documenting the mysterious movements of the stones.

more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6592487/Real-life-rolling-stones-creep-across-Death-Valley-in-California.html

[ORDagnabbit]

1. totally forgot about this...I remember reading about it back in the ole black and white ripleys

[Speck Tater]

2. Obviously these are the space alien's spy probes disguised as rocks. nt

[Dennis Donovan]

3. That's not a rock - that's just Mick Jagger:

[dalaigh lllama]

4. I remember this too, from years back

What I'd like to know is if they've at least figured out how quickly it took the above rock to move X number of feet. A year? A century? A millenium? It's quite an interesting phenomenon.

[lob1]

5. I have photographed some of these rocks. You can see their trail that

is sometimes hundreds of yards long.

[KansDem]

6. It's on its way to buy Sarah Palin's book...

Hope the supplies last!

[mike_c]

7. the Racetrack....

That whole socal desert is one of my favorite places on Earth.

[imdjh]

8. They are probably trying to go visit the crop circles. nt

[eleny]

9. A YouTube about these rocks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1hoiHvOeGc

[thereismore]

10. Not rolling, sliding. nt

[Ready4Change]

11. Is it possibly the other way around?

Could the upper layer of the valley floor be sliding past stationary rocks?