Hot Stuff

Around 10 million years ago, a hot spot under the earth’s mantle caused vertical flows of magma to well up. The resulting plume of thick, mineral-rich lava created the volcanic island which is now my home. These lava tubes are the “hot stuff” I have recreated. Earth and Jupiter’s moon still have active volcanoes, and so may Venus and Mars. Their volcanic activity acts as a window to the ancient interiors of these celestial bodies. On a neighboring island, rivers of fiery lava still ooze down slopes and across the ground, slowly crawling toward the ocean. Standing in the solidified lava fields, I can feel the heat through my shoes.