What is “Unexplained Engineering Mysteries?” It’s a series of stories about our innate need to chase the unexplained, fringe science, legend, myth, the unknown. But the title is a bit of a misnomer. Why? Because engineers would solve these mysteries. That’s what we do.

Somewhere in Northern California near Mount Shasta (see figure), a sound bellows through the air. Unidentifiable and unsettling. Passersby Karrie Ann Snure and her daughter Jordan listened while horseback riding, trying to find its source. For a moment, it seemed elusive and sporadic. Then they found it, but the answer left even more questions. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of solar-powered speakers hidden in the ground. Some played mantras. Others emitted religious hymns or eerie white noise.

Their discovery quickly went viral after Snure posted a recording of the scene on social media. In the video, the speakers are spread out across a stretch of land close to Mount Shasta, where UFO stories and hidden civilizations are known to originate. Snure mentioned that it sounded like someone summoned something, and this piqued the curiosity of hundreds of thousands of viewers.

“This is straight apocalyptic,” said Snure. “Someone is summoning something here. What is happening right now?”

She picked up a speaker and moved her phone close to it to capture the audio. The message said, “You are the representative of God for our spiritual elevation. We humbly wish you praise, thanks … and love, God Almighty. The most high, the greatest. … (We) praise the only son of God, who is the ultimate master.”

Those on social media thought of a few theories. Some pointed to a secret government experiment, wolf deterrents, an art project, or the workings of a cult. Others believed it had to do with Mount Shasta’s long-standing reputation for conspiracy theories and mystics. After all, the mountain has been associated with unexplained phenomena like supernatural energy that’s grasped other people’s attention.

Eventually, Snure figured out that the speakers are on private property next to public land. She spoke to the property owner, who insisted the speakers are for a personal and spiritual project to share positive messages. The owner said the speakers send intentions into the universe, focusing on peace, compassion, and veganism.

Although that explanation makes the story less scary and mysterious, it still leads to a strange sight. Speakers emitting unusual noises on a hillside would spook anyone who comes across them. Mysteries like this fit Mount Shasta, a landscape in which legends and unexplained stories collide with reality.

But, if you’re curious about what type of speakers they were, you can get some just like those for $5 USD. This “Solar Power Player” is a lot of tech for relatively cheap. I love the idea of playing sounds somewhere in nature even when no one can hear it.

I have an idea… place the same tech inside a model rocket or balloon sensor. Have it say, “If you find this device, please return it to blah blah blah.” A perpetually powered alert device might significantly increase your chances of sensor recovery. Something I’m going to keep in mind for the future.