Sailing stones in Death Valley - of course you’ve heard about them. These are the stones that leave mysterious tracks on a barren lake bed, sometimes miles long. Thousands of tourists and scientists visit Racetrack Playa each year: some to enjoy the mysterious sight and, if lucky, witness the movements; others hoping to explain the phenomena.
For decades scientists presented different theories regarding the stones that seem to drag themselves across the sandy surface. Hurricanes, sand devils and energy fields – these are just to name few.
But the mystery is finally solved, and it’s none of the above. A team led by Richard Norris, professor at Geosciences Research Division at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studied the stones for two years using modern technologies, gathered the data and.. found the answer.
GUEST
Richard Norris, Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.