Iceland battles a lava flow: Countries have built barriers and tried explosives in the past, but it's hard to stop molten rock

Iceland, Hawaii and Italy have all tried to control lava to save cities in the past. A volcanologist explains the methods.

Loÿc Vanderkluysen, Associate Professor of Earth Science, Drexel University • conversation
Jan. 17, 2024 • ~5 min

Volcanic eruption lights up Iceland after weeks of earthquake warnings − a geologist explains what's happening

Iceland is known as ‘the land of fire and ice’ for a reason.

Jaime Toro, Professor of Geology, West Virginia University • conversation
Dec. 19, 2023 • ~8 min

Volcanic Iceland is rumbling again as magma rises − a geologist explains eruptions in the land of fire and ice

Iceland’s volcanic activity is generally tame compared with explosive eruptions along the Pacific’s Ring of Fire. This time, it’s shaking up a town.

Jaime Toro, Professor of Geology, West Virginia University • conversation
Nov. 15, 2023 • ~9 min

Iceland on high alert for volcanic eruption – what we know so far

Evidence suggests magma is close to the surface in south-west Iceland, prompting evacuations.

Tamsin Mather, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford • conversation
Nov. 14, 2023 • ~7 min

We've discovered how diamonds make their way to the surface and it may tell us where to find them

Scientists were not previously certain how the precious stones arrived at the Earth’s surface.

Thomas Gernon, Associate Professor in Earth Science, University of Southampton • conversation
July 26, 2023 • ~7 min

What causes volcanoes to erupt?

As they shape the Earth, volcanoes inspire and terrify humans.

Rachel Beane, Professor of Natural Sciences, Bowdoin College • conversation
May 1, 2023 • ~7 min

Where Mauna Loa’s lava is coming from – and why Hawaii’s volcanoes are different from most

A scientist who led one of the first projects to map the Hawaiian Islands’ deep volcanic plumbing explains what’s going on under the surface as Mauna Loa erupts.

Gabi Laske, Professor of Geophysics, University of California, San Diego • conversation
Nov. 30, 2022 • ~6 min

Where Mauna Loa's lava comes from – and why Hawaii's volcanoes are different from most

A scientist who led one of the first projects to map the Hawaiian Islands’ deep volcanic plumbing explains what’s going on under the surface as Mauna Loa erupts.

Gabi Laske, Professor of Geophysics, University of California, San Diego • conversation
Nov. 30, 2022 • ~6 min

Deep-sea volcanic eruptions create megaplumes that may have dispersed early life

Volcanic eruptions on the seafloor are mysterious, but new research provides fresh clues.

Sam Pegler, University Academic Fellow in Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds • conversation
April 21, 2021 • ~8 min

South-west Iceland is shaking – and may be about to erupt

The last time south-west Iceland experienced a turbulent period of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions was in the 1300s.

Dave McGarvie, Volcanologist, Lancaster University • conversation
March 4, 2021 • ~6 min

/

2