A "mysterious monolith" has been found in the Nevada desert - similar to those found around the world several years ago.
Back in 2020 - as if the world couldn't have gotten any weirder that year - a random monolith appeared in the Utah desert, where it remained for nine days.
Then, another appeared outside the Romanian city of Piatra Neamt, where it remained for around five days.
Then another in Pine Mountain in Atascadero, California. Then another in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There was even one on the Isle of Wight in England.
These long vertical slabs of metal - each around 10 to 12 feet tall - captured the interest of the world, as people argued over their origin and meaning. But, per Vox, it appears that the initial Utah monolith was the work of an anonymous artist - with copycat artists then taking inspiration and erecting monoliths near them.
In fact, a community of prankster artists known as The Most Famous Artist - famous for their stunts - took credit for the Utah and California monoliths. The others have been attributed to copycats.
Fast forward nearly four years, and they monoliths are back!
...well, "monolith", singular.
In posts shared to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's official Facebook and X pages, photos show that a new monolith has been spotted in the Nevada desert.
Alongside photos of the structure, officials wrote on Monday (June 17): "We see a lot of weird things when people go hiking like not being prepared for the weather, not bringing enough water... but check this out!
"Over the weekend, Las Vegas Metro Search and Rescue spotted this mysterious monolith near Gass Peak north of the valley. HOW did it get up there??"
Since its discovery, the monolith has already made headlines in publications like the New York Post and Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Much like the monoliths of 2020, the structure looks like something out of Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey.
And much like the 2020 monoliths, it has already set social media abuzz. Here are some of our favorite reactions:
Another person wrote: "Probably a prank, but it would be cool if it wasn't from our planet or galaxy for that matter, but most likely someone on earth placed it there for social media views."
Others described it as "beautiful", "odd", "cringe", and "littering".
The LVMPD has used the virality of the mystery to highlight safety precautions when hiking in the wilderness (no doubt anticipated an influx of people rushing to see the bizarre monolith).
"While the internet gets to work on this mystery, remember: when enjoying our incredible outdoors, use the TRAIL acronym:
"(1) Tell someone where you intend to hike or climb & when you are expecting to return home.
"(2) Research the weather forecast for the area before you go.
"(3) Aid and additional food and water! AKA, bring plenty of water (double what you think you'll need), food, & a first aid kit.
"(4) Inclement weather gear & minimal overnight provisions (hot or cold)
"(5) Light: Bring a light source, completely charged phone, & consider a P.L.B. (Personal Locator Beacon)."
So, if you are thinking of going to see the monolith - stay safe!
