[dfwgator]

Then why haven’t they won a Super Bowl?

[goldstategop]

Josh Gates demonstrated how well Viking sunstones work as a navigation aid on an episode of “Expedition Unknown.”

The Vikings invented the ultimate maritime compass.

[Bob434]

josh gates did a show on the sunstone- found it to be fairly accurate as well

[Beowulf9]

Whatever happened to that guy who had the cool Viking icon? I’d expect him to show up here.

[Fedora]

Ping.

[2banana]

OK - let me get this straight.

Scientist think the Vikings used these stones to navigate on foggy and cloudy days.

And the stones contain crystals that REQUIRE SUNLIGHT to work.

+++++++

“Vikings to navigate on foggy and cloudy days could provide accurate results.

Vikings living between 900 and 1200AD did not have magnetic compasses, and their ability to navigate was attributed in part to the use of calcite, cordierite or tourmaline crystals which functioned as linear polarizers to help them determine geographic north. The crystals can split sunlight into two beams, and when the crystal is turned, splitting the two beams at the same brightness, a navigator could see the polarized rings around the sun, effectively showing its placement in the sky.”

[rdl6989]

Earlier research...indicates that Vikings may also have been able to navigate after sunset. This could have been achieved by using a sun-compass, a modified sundial, with sunstones to create a "twilight board."

This is very interesting. Thanks for posting.