All articles tagged with #death valley
A look at how iconic college football stadium nicknames—Clemson and LSU’s Death Valley, Florida’s The Swamp, Michigan’s The Big House, and Ohio State’s The Horseshoe—emerged from marketing, architecture, heat, and memorable moments to become enduring legends that outlive the official stadium names.
A 68-year-old French tourist, Pierre Michel Formosa, died in Death Valley National Park after he and a companion abandoned their disabled vehicle on West Side Road. Formosa hiked about 1.3 miles toward Badwater Road before collapsing; a motorist alerted authorities and a search-and-rescue operation recovered his body about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road. The coroner will determine the cause of death. Park officials warn that Death Valley’s extreme heat and remoteness can be deadly, noting that the day’s temperature reached about 116 degrees during a record-hot 2024 summer.
A 68-year-old French tourist, Pierre Michel Formosa, died in Death Valley after the car he and a companion were in became stuck in mud on West Side Road amid extreme heat (about 116–118 F). The companion sought help at Furnace Creek, and a search-and-rescue operation found Formosa later that afternoon; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner will determine the cause of death. Officials warned of dangerous heat with limited cell service and long response times, urging visitors to carry ample water, check conditions in advance, and stay with a disabled vehicle to aid locating and rescue.
A 68-year-old French tourist died in Death Valley after his car became stuck in mud and he walked 1.3 miles across salt flats to seek help in scorching 116F (46.6C) heat. His traveling companion flagged down a driver, and rangers found him later that afternoon. Officials warn that extreme heat and remoteness can be deadly, even for seasoned visitors.
A 68-year-old French tourist, Pierre Michel Formosa, died in Death Valley after his car broke down and he and a companion walked for help as temperatures reached about 116–117°F; Formosa was unable to continue after walking just over a mile and was pronounced dead at the scene, with a companion reporting the emergency. His final Facebook post documented the journey and humor about the heat, serving as a haunting prelude to the tragedy. Park officials warn that Death Valley's extreme heat and remoteness can turn a short trek deadly, urging visitors to carry ample water, have vehicle emergency supplies, and stay with a disabled vehicle if stranded.
A 68-year-old French tourist died after his car became stuck on Death Valley’s West Side Road; he and a companion walked about 1.3 miles toward Badwater Road in 116°F heat, but he could not continue. Rescue teams found him about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road and he was pronounced dead; the coroner will determine the cause. The incident highlights Death Valley’s extreme heat and the park’s safety guidance to carry water and stay put if stranded.
A 68-year-old French visitor died in Death Valley after his vehicle broke down on a remote road; he and a companion attempted a 1.3-mile hike through triple-digit heat (up to 116°F) to find help, but he could not continue. His companion reached Badwater Road and notified authorities, who recovered the body; the cause of death is under investigation. The incident underscores the park’s dangerous heat conditions.
Forecasters warn that Southern California will endure the hottest week of the year, with downtown L.A. near 96–98°F and inland valleys 100–110°F (coast 80–90°F), while Death Valley could reach 119–120°F; a heat advisory and an extreme heat watch are in place, prompting safety tips as health risks rise and a French traveler died in Death Valley amid the heat.
Scientists confirmed how the famous sailing stones at Racetrack Playa move: during a rare winter, a shallow pond freezes into a 3–6 mm ice sheet that cracks into panels; a light breeze pushes these panels, sliding heavy rocks across the mud at a walking pace. The 2013–2014 study installed a weather station, time-lapse cameras, and GPS loggers, capturing major moves (one rock ≈65 m in 16 minutes; total trails up to 224 m) and showing that movement is episodic and dependent on precise conditions, while older theories of hurricane winds or thick ice are unlikely. The finding explains many trails, though not all on the playa, and highlights how subtle forces can shape dramatic landscapes.
Scientists have solved the mystery of Racetrack Playa’s sailing stones: when the playa floods, shallow water freezes into thin ice sheets (3–5 mm thick). Light winds (3–5 m/s) push these ice panels, which transfer force to rocks over the soft mud, causing them to slide and leave parallel trails. Over about 2.5 months, researchers recorded five movement events—some involving hundreds of stones and distances up to 60+ meters—demonstrating that the rocks move slowly and are driven by rare, gentle wind-ice conditions rather than being lifted by the ice.
A rare, expansive wildflower bloom has transformed Death Valley National Park after above-average fall and winter rainfall, marking the most extensive bloom in ten years. Blooms are visible at low elevations along Badwater Road with higher-elevation blossoms expected later, and visitors are urged to stay on trails to protect the fragile desert habitat.
Scientists finally uncovered the mystery of the moving rocks in Death Valley's Racetrack Playa, revealing that delicate sheets of ice, formed overnight and melted in the sun, along with light winds, gently push the rocks across the desert floor, leaving trails that have puzzled observers for over a century.
NASA is testing drone technology in Death Valley to develop autonomous rotorcraft that can navigate featureless terrain, which could be used for future Mars exploration to map landing zones, locate resources, and guide astronauts, building on the success of the Ingenuity helicopter.
NASA is testing advanced drone and robotic technologies in Death Valley and other desert sites to simulate Mars conditions, aiming to improve navigation, exploration, and mobility for future Mars missions, including software, autonomous robots, and flying vehicles.
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off eastern Russia caused minor disturbances in Devils Hole, Death Valley, triggering small waves in the water-filled cave but posing no threat to the local pupfish population.