WORLD
The shiny, triangular pillar which protrudes approximately 12 feet from the red rocks of southern Utah was spotted last Wednesday by local officials.
A mysterious glittering metal monolith was discovered during a helicopter survey of bighorn sheep in southeastern Utah last week. The smooth, tall structure was found in one of the most remote parts of the state, according to officials.
As per reports, several members of the Utah Department of Public Safety and Division of Wildlife Resources spotted the shiny monolith from above on November 18.
Utah Department of Public Safety crew members then landed to investigate it and found 'a metal monolith installed in the ground' but no obvious indication of who might have put the monolith there.
'It is illegal to install structures or art without authorization on federally managed public lands, no matter what planet you're from,' warned the agency in a press release Monday.
The three-sided stainless-steel object is about as tall as two men put together. It is clear that it took some planning and work to construct the 10 to 12 feet (3 to 4 meter) monolith and embed it in the rock.
News of the discovery quickly went viral online, with many noting the object's similarity with strange alien monoliths that trigger huge leaps in human progress in Kubrick's classic sci-fi '2001: A Space Odyssey.'
Others remarked on its discovery during a turbulent year that has seen the world gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic, and optimistically speculated it could have a different function entirely.
'This is the 'reset' button for 2020. Can someone please press it quickly?' joked one Instagram user. 'Up close it reads: 'Covid vaccine inside', wrote another.
The spot at which the monolith was discovered is so remote that officials are not revealing it publicly, worried that people might get stranded trying to find it and need to be rescued.
Bret Hutchings, the pilot who happened to fly over the obelisk, speculated that the obelisk had been planted by 'some new wave artist.'
Some observers pointed out the object's resemblance to the avant-garde work of John McCracken, a US artist who lived for a time in nearby New Mexico, and died in 2011.
On Tuesday a spokeswoman for his representative David Zwirner said it was not one of McCracken's works, but possibly by a fellow artist paying homage.
However later in the day Zwirner gave another statement in which he suggested the piece was indeed by McCracken, meaning it had lain undiscovered in the desert for nearly a decade.
'Your input is...': Nirmala Sitharaman’s response to X user requesting 'relief' for middle class
Caught on camera: Horse kicks woman off scooty on busy road, watch viral video
Here's how you can travel with your dog on Indian Railways: Check step-by-step guidelines
BJP forms 12-member manifesto committee for upcoming Delhi assembly polls
Lyricist Jaani reveals his real name for the first time, it is...
Gold is priced cheaper in India than UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Singapore, reason is...
Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior vendor attacked with super glue, his eyes and lips sealed; probe underway
Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot resigns from AAP: 'Embarrassing and awkward controversies like...'
Manoj Bajpayee was mistaken for having liquor before shooting, then this happened
Viral video shows woman in saree dancing alongside moving car, leaves netizens awestruck, watch here
From F-35s to Fairways: Will Trump's second term be defined by arms deals and Arabian villas?
Kanguva review: Suriya, Disha Patani, Bobby Deol's film is no Baahubali
Anil Agarwal reveals next BIG plan of Vedanta, set to increase production in...
Elon Musk announces future of ultra-fast travel, claims US to India trip will just take...
Adnan Sami went from 220 kg to 75 kg in just 16 months by leaving THESE 4 things
'We ran out of missiles': US fighter pilots recall countering Iranian attack on Israel
Shillong Teer Result TODAY November 17, 2024: Check lucky winning numbers
DNA Explainer: Why are millions switching from Elon Musk's X to Jack Dorsey's Bluesky?
12-yr-old boy illustrates Bhagavad Gita verses with 84,426 pics, creates record
Manipur violence: Protesters attack residence of CM, 2 ministers, 3 MLAs; curfew imposed
Delhi pollution: Toxic smog chokes Delhi-NCR; AQI remains in 'severe' category, Anand Vihar at 458
Madhuri Dixit breaks her silence on rivalry with Sridevi in 90s: ‘We didn’t really…’
Mukesh Ambani, Isha Ambani's BIG move, they're closing Reliance led Centro because...
Meet woman, engineer who cracked CAT with 99% marks later cleared UPSC with AIR 15, she is...
Viral video: Little girl wins heart with adorable dance to Shraddha Kapoor’s 'Aayi Nai' song, watch
Viral video: Girl’s breathtaking dance to Aishwarya Rai's 'Barso Re' song earns praise, watch
Here's how much Jake Paul earned from his win against Mike Tyson
This bird has one of the largest eyes in world, even bigger than its brain, they measure…
Gautam Adani's company announces another 13% reduction in gas supply from GAIL, could impact...
Ajay Devgn makes big announcement, will direct Akshay Kumar in fifth directorial
IPL legend overlooked by franchises, excluded from shortlist for mega-auction
Bengaluru: Father slams 14-year-old son against wall, kills him due to...
Anupamaa crew member dies due to electrocution, safety on sets questioned
Skoda Slavia, Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, Virtus to be recalled in India due to…
Meet Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 13-year-old batting prodigy to watch out for in IPL 2025 mega auction
Bigg Boss 18 wild card contestant Edin Rose: Know everything about her
Govinda deals with health scare, leaves election campaign due to...
Who is Shivon Zili ? Mother of world's richest man's 'secret twins', her connection with India is...
Good News for Delhi-NCR residents as RRTS corridor likely to commence operations from...
Didn't get ticket for Coldplay? Here's what you can do instead
AIIMS INICET January 2025: Result declared, follow these steps to check your scores
6G's Growing Concern: Terahertz Waves May Impact Male Reproductive Health
Is RBI planning to release Rs 7 coin to honour MS Dhoni? Truth is...
Manipur: Curfew reimposed in Imphal amid prevailing law and order situation
This is Nita Ambani, Alia Bhatt's hairstylist hack for extra shine in hair
New concrete coating offers hope in fight against sewer blockages
What is Train 18? This is the fastest train in India, runs at speed of 200km/h, it is…
Disha Patani’s father scammed: Fraudsters promise him government job in UP, dupe him of Rs 25 lakh
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance asks TRAI to review reach of Musk's Starlink, Amazon before...
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu's brother Ramamurthy Naidu dies at 72 due to...
Kanguva makers face criticism over 'poor' audio quality, producer reacts: 'No one has...'
Mallika Sagar to conduct IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah: All you need to know about the auctioneer
Miss Universe 2024: Rhea Singha dazzles in 'The Golden Bird' dress for National Costume Round
Supreme Court asks centre to assess ground situation on menstrual hygiene in schools
4,4,4,6: Shaheen Afridi smashed for 21-run over in AUS vs PAK 2nd T20I
THIS historic train will be discontinued soon, set to become restaurant, it is...
Woman's body stuffed in red suitcase found on Delhi-Lucknow highway, police initiate probe
Sukhbir Singh Badal resigns as Shiromani Akali Dal president
ISRO to launch GSAT-20 communications satellite using Elon Musk's SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on...
Uttar Pradesh: 7 people, including newly-wed couple, die after car collides with auto in Bijnor
After Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul, when will Elon Musk fight with Mark Zuckerberg? Tesla CEO says...