First it was Utah, then Romania, followed by California, Spain, Wales and Paraguay. Metallic monoliths began to be found in late 2020 by unsuspecting viewers in seemingly random locations around the world. Often reminiscent of science fiction movie props, the mysterious objects captured the public’s attention and frequently drew crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of the bewildering columns. In June, another gleaming prism materialized outside of Las Vegas. Police say they don’t know who is responsible for the monolith or how they got it there. Just what, exactly, are these things? Some have speculated that they’ve been deposited on earth by alien visitors, while others surmise they might be strange works of art. Still others say they’re nothing more than playful pranks. Some people have taken credit for other monoliths, suggesting that the original object in Utah likely inspired copycats around the world. To this day, mystery surrounds the Utah monolith and many of its successors, perhaps adding to their appeal.
