Death Valley's "Racing Rocks" Inspire Experiment To Make Ice Move On Its Own

For decades, Racetrack Playa in California’s Death Valley and its "racing rocks", or " sailing stones ", was a mystery that inspired speculation ranging from epic storms to supernatural intervention. A decade after the movement of rocks across the desert floor was explained, their behavior has inspired a lab experiment that could one day see new methods of energy harvesting. The outcome has been somewhat different from what is seen on the playa, but the authors think their work could actually be more useful. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Racetrack Playa is littered with hundreds of rocks – the largest weighing more than two NFL linesmen – with zigzagging trails behind them indicating apparent movement across the d