The prank-loving artists who create the giant, geometric around the world, which get more and more complex every year, don't give up their secrets, but that won't stop prank-loving physicists from trying to figure out how the circles are created.
First thought by many to have been created by aliens, pranksters Doug Bower and Dave Chorley announced to the world in 1991 that they had been using ropes and planks of wood to stomp down crops since 1978.
But since that time, have gotten increasingly more complex, suggesting that more sophisticated tools are in use. According to a report in this month's issue of Physics World, crop circle creators may be turning to high-tech devices like GPS devices, lasers, and microwaves to create their intricate patterns.
The article was written by Richard Taylor, director of the Materials Science Institute at the University of Oregon, who calls "the most science-oriented art movement in history."
Taylor used mathematical analysis on to reveal patterns invisible to the naked eye. The construction lines, he says, are the key to creating the complex patterns. He says GPS systems may allow artists to be precise in their designs, while lasers help them keep their lines straight.
He also said that it appears crop circle artists are using a piece of a microwave oven known as a magnetron and a 12V battery, which causes corn stalks to bend and stay flat. This allows them to work quickly and get out before they are discovered.
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