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ScienceArchaeologyNew Remains Found at Pompeii Show the Agony of Mount Vesuvius’ Victims
Archaeologists working near the ancient city of Pompeii have uncovered the remains of two men who were likely trying to find shelter during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. When Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, the volcano played a cruel trick on the people living nearby. The eruption happened in … Continued
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ScienceArchaeologyPreserved Brain Tissue Found in Victim of Ancient Vesuvius Eruption, Scientists Report
The catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago is famous for preserving its many victims in volcanic ash. New research suggests this preservation extends to the cellular level, owing to the apparent discovery of neurons in a victim whose brain was turned to glass during the eruption. New research published today in PLOS … Continued
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ScienceArchaeologyScientists Reveal More About Volcanic Eruption That Rocked the Ancient Maya
Using a combination of archaeological and geological evidence, scientists have finally pinpointed the date of the infamous Tierra Blanca Joven eruption, which likely devastated Maya communities in what is now El Salvador. Ilopango volcano blew its stack 1,589 years ago—give or take a year or two—according to new research published this week in Proceedings of … Continued
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ScienceArchaeologyVolcanic Eruption in Alaska May Have Sparked Political Turmoil in Ancient Rome
An unusually powerful volcanic eruption in 43 BCE has been linked to political upheaval on the other side of the globe, including the fall of the Roman Republic and the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators in 44 BCE, triggering a chain of events that led to the demise … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeWhy the Taal Eruption Won’t Slow Down Climate Change
An eruption at the Philippines’ Taal volcano sent locals fleeing for cover as towering ash clouds rose on Monday. Lightning licked the plumes of smoke rising from one of the most active volcanoes in an island nation with dozens of others in various states of unrest. The local effects of Taal are clearly devastating, as … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
ScienceSpaceThe Biggest Volcano on Jupiter’s Molten Moon Io Is Likely to Erupt at Any Moment
Observational data collected over the years suggests the largest volcano on Jupiter’s moon Io—the most geologically active object in the Solar System—will erupt in mid-September, which is pretty much any moment now. When it comes to eruptions, volcanoes tend to operate on their own unpredictable schedules. Such is not the case for Loki, however, the … Continued
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EartherClimate ChangeWelp, Using Volcanoes to Understand Geoengineering Might Not Really Work
The cooling effects of large volcanic eruptions have led some scientists to believe these natural hazards could inspire and inform the development of geoengineering schemes to combat climate change. New research suggests this is probably a bad idea. Our planet may soon pass a critical tipping point, after which time a massive reduction of carbon … Continued
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EartherEarth ScienceSatellite Images Show Shattered Remains of Indonesia’s Tsunami-Causing Volcano
Vivid new satellite photos of Anak Krakatau are providing our first cloud-free glimpse of the island volcano that triggered a devastating tsunami in Indonesia late last month. As the photos show, a gaping lagoon now appears where a 1,115-foot-high volcanic mountain once stood. It’s now all but certain that a devastating landslide on Anak Krakatau … Continued
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EartherEarth Science
Guatemala’s Volcan de Fuego Is Erupting Again, and the Photos Are Terrifying
One of Guatemala’s most violent volcanoes is back at it again. Less than six months after a major eruption killed more than 150, Volcan de Fuego roared to life in the early hours of Monday. Burbling lava and a towering ash cloud visible from space sent about 4,000 people scrambling for safety. Fuego has been … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherEarth Science
A Supervolcano’s Colossal Eruption Has Been Lying About Its Age
The most violent eruption of the last 5,000 years was undoubtedly that of Taupo, a volcanic cauldron found in New Zealand. It’s still an active volcanic system, so the more we know about it the better—but the exact age of that eruption has proved to be a puzzle for scientists. The most precise dating methods … Continued
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ScienceArchaeology
Intense Heat From Ancient Vesuvius Eruption Caused Victims’ Skulls to Explode
During the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD, clouds of superheated gas enveloped the ancient city of Pompeii and its surrounding areas, instantly vaporizing bodily fluids and soft tissues, according to new research. Sounds grim, but this mode of death was actually a blessing in disguise, given the alternatives. Death came in any number of … Continued
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EartherClimate Change
Yet Another Reason Geoengineering Won’t Save Us
Geoengineering our planet to solve climate change is one of the riskiest propositions humanity has ever considered. That’s largely because there’s no way to know all the consequences that come with reflecting sunlight back into space, particularly when it comes to the agricultural system that has allowed humanity to flourish for millennia. That’s sent scientists … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
Volcanic Ash Has Basically Turned Day Into Night in Vanuatu
I’m no expert, but I feel like our planet is trying to tell us something. In addition to every corner of the globe being on fire, doused in rain, or cooked by heat, a new volcanic eruption is adding heavy ash to the list of calamities befalling humanity. The Manaro Voui volcano popped off in … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
ScienceArchaeology
Skull of Crushed Pompeii Victim Found ‘Intact’
Last month, archaeologists in Italy found the skeletal remains of a Pompeii resident who apparently had his head crushed by a giant rock while fleeing the eruption some 2,000 years ago. The victim’s skull has now been recovered, and its surprisingly pristine condition suggests an alternative cause of death. Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, … Continued
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Tech NewsKilauea Volcano Has Turned This Hawaiian Shore Into an Apocalyptic Wasteland
It’s been over six weeks since lava fissures began erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island, and there’s still no end in sight. New videos taken by the US Geological Survey reveal the dramatic extent to which the encroaching lava has reshaped the surrounding landscape, turning once gorgeous beaches into a smoldering pile of volcanic waste. This … Continued
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Tech News
Which Volcanoes Are Most Overdue for Eruption?
The recent volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Guatemala are potent reminders that our planet is capable of unleashing its pent up fury at virtually any given time. Predicting eruptions isn’t easy, but some volcanoes are more worrisome than others. Before we list our planet’s most “overdue” volcanoes, it’s important to establish some perspective. Like earthquakes, … Continued
