Strange monolith materializes unexpectedly in Nevada desert

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sparked a surge in conspiracy theories when it disclosed online a peculiar discovery found in the Nevada desert, unveiling a Pandora's Box of speculation.

"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!" the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) explained in a post on X.

Photo Credit: X @LVMPD

The LVMPD reported that over the weekend hikers spotted what the police department referred to as a "mysterious monolith" that was discovered "near Gass Peak north of the valley."

Photo Credit: X @MarioNawfal

Jutting out of the desert only about 45 miles or 72 kilometers from Las Vegas, according to reporting from The Independent, this monolith has prompted a lot of questions about where it came from and why it was in the desert.

Photo Credit: X @LVMPD

One of the most striking aspects about this weird discovery is the monolith itself, which is a large mirrored rectangle, perfectly cut and of such astonishing precision that it does not fit in the desert area where it was found.

Photo Credit: X @MarioNawfal

At the moment, no one has claimed responsibility for the monolith, although it has quickly been linked to other monoliths that appeared in 2020 across various parts of the world.

The first monolith like the one discovered in Nevada was found at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Utah. That glass monolith quickly went viral, but it wasn't the only one that was found.

The Independent specifically noted that other monoliths had been discovered in Romania as well as in New Mexico and California while Business Insider reported in December 2020 that 87 other monoliths had been discovered throughout the world.

Needless to say, theories about the origin, creation, and characteristics of these perfect glass monoliths have exploded and are already spreading like wildfire on internet forums and social networks.

CNN reported that one X user responded to the Las Vegas Police Department's story by commenting: “Obelisks have unknown power and purpose. I think it’s man made but aliens are still among us. Keep your eyes open and cameras ready."

One of the most popular theories around the world is that the strange monoliths are part of an advertising stunt by a company with a marketing department worthy of applause.

Several media outlets, including the Associated Press, have said that these weird monoliths take references from Stanley Kubrick and his film '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

If you're planning a visit to the monolith, the LVMPD has provided some recommendations to stay safe. "Tell someone where you intend to hike or climb & when you are expecting to return home," the police department wrote on its social media channels. "Research the weather forecast for the area before you go," it added.

Photo Credit: X @LVMPD