The aliens are telling us it’s time to evolve.

On Nov. 18, a strange metal monolith appeared in southeast Utah, specifically in Red Rock Country. The Utah Department of Public Safety discovered the 10- to 12-foot tall structure while surveying the area for sheep and other wildlife.

It seemed to have been placed instead of dropped, and despite the mystery, officials made it clear that installing structures or art on public land without permission was illegal.

Investigations found minimal information regarding the monolith or those who put it there. It truly showed up out of nowhere.

And now it’s gone.

Sometime between Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, the monolith was removed from its spot. Left in its wake was a pile of rocks. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said an “unknown party or parties” removed the monolith during the night.

But the aliens aren’t done yet.

That same weekend, a similarly shaped monolith popped up in eastern Romania—nearly 6,000 miles away. But on Dec. 1, this one disappeared, too!

And then a third monolith arrived in California atop Atascadero’s Pine Mountain. Established on Dec. 2, its life was short lived as it was removed the next day.

The odd appearance and disappearance of the monolith in Utah, the second installment in Romania and the third in California are without explanation.

Would aliens even take credit? Maybe they like watching us humans scramble for answers.

Why set up the monolith at all?

Indeed, that is the burning question.

I propose we turn to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In both of its occurrences, the monolith seems to be fashioned after the one presented in Kubrick’s acclaimed film.

Since the movie’s release, the monolith’s meaning has been disputed. The film itself is, at times, wildly confusing and ambiguous, and the monolith within it is no different. However, theories have been made, particularly linking the metal structure to evolution.

The movie is divided into four sections. In the first part, a tribe of hominids gets pushed away from its watering hole by another tribe, but then discovers a strange monolith. Strangely, the tribe develops tools, which enables it to drive away the rival tribe and, thus, reclaim the watering hole.

It’s a subtle change, especially in the context of life today, but the development of a singular tool was a huge evolutionary jump. It would lead to immense advancements in technology and civilization, as seen in the remaining parts of the film.

In section two, which is millions of years later, a group of astronauts discovers a similar monolith, perhaps the same one. When it is uncovered, a sunbeam hits it, resulting in a high-powered radio signal.

Moving into part three of the film, a small crew of astronauts is journeying to Jupiter. This takes place only 18 months after the monolith was found on the moon, showing a rapid advancement in technology, specifically in that the crew is accompanied by a supercomputer named Hal. The plot soon divulges into a human vs. artificial intelligence predicament, wherein David Bowman, the only surviving astronaut, must disconnect Hal to protect his life and save the ship. He does so, but then, he is alone.

The segue way into the film’s final and fourth section occurs because Bowman sees a monolith—I’m sure you can guess which one—orbiting Jupiter. He leaves the ship in a separate travel pod and goes toward it. However, on the way, he gets pulled into a color vortex. Space and time are lost in the moments he travels through. Then, he ends up in a bedroom.

Within this room, he watches himself grow old, nearly until the point of death. The monolith appears at the foot of his bed, and when he reaches for it, he is transformed into a fetus held inside an orb of light and relocated outside earth’s atmosphere.

It’s a bit wacky when put into words.

The point is whenever the monolith is seen, some extreme form of evolution takes place. Mostly technologically based, but these advances show how quickly humanity can develop on its own or with a little assistance.

Is this why the monolith placed first in Utah and then Romania appeared? Are aliens trying to help us evolve?

Maybe they want us to evolve past the point of worrying about pandemics and illness or perhaps climate change. Maybe they’re telling us it’s time to leave earth.

Was Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” just 19 years too late? Are we headed for Jupiter?

Maybe it’s not even aliens. It could just be a fun, coordinated stunt or art piece that captured our attention. How could it not? We have always seemed to have a fascination with life outside of earth’s dome.

Either way, I’m getting my tinfoil hat.

Maddie Peters can be reached at pete9542@stthomas.edu.