The phenomenon was observed first by E. Altshuler at the University of Havana in 1995, but at the time he assumed that it was well known, and temporarily forgot about it. In 2000, being at the University of Houston, he told K. E. Bassler, who showed a vivid interest in the matter. Embarrassingly enough, Altshuler was unable to demonstrate it before Bassler using a random sand from Houston, so he had to send him a video from Cuba after his return to the island.