'Not made by humans?': Mysterious Antarctic pyramid leaves scientists searching for answers
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Mysterious Pyramid
A pyramid-shaped peak in Antarctica’s Ellsworth Mountains has sparked intrigue for its near-perfect symmetry, creating viral speculation about lost civilizations and alien engineering.
Natural Formation
Despite its man-made appearance, researchers confirm the peak was sculpted by millions of years of freeze-thaw erosion, showcasing nature’s astonishing ability to mimic human design.
Scientific Interest
Geologists explain the mountain’s unique geometry as a product of erosion. Its striking four-sided shape is rare but not impossible in extreme environments like Antarctica.
Internet Phenomenon
The Antarctic “pyramid” gained viral fame in 2016 when satellite images of its shape sparked wild theories about ancient civilizations and extraterrestrial involvement.
Expert Opinion
Mauri Pelto, an environmental science professor, emphasized that this formation is well-documented by scientists studying the Ellsworth Mountains and nearby Patriot Hills research base.
Erosion Science
Freeze-thaw weathering, caused by water freezing in cracks and expanding, gradually broke down the rock to form the mountain’s sharp angles and triangular faces over millions of years.
Geological Rarity
Eric Rignot, NASA scientist, dismissed conspiracy theories, explaining that while such symmetry is rare, it’s a natural occurrence caused by uniform erosion rates on multiple sides.
Ancient Fossils
The Ellsworth Mountains, including the pyramid-shaped peak, have yielded 500-million-year-old fossils, offering insights into Earth’s Cambrian period and the evolution of life.
Representative pic
Cosmic Curiosity
Antarctica’s frozen landscapes inspire not only earthly exploration but also research into conditions for life on frozen moons like Europa, highlighting the planet’s geological parallels.