Heat Shapes Volcanic Explosions | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 1, 2026 · 1m

Volcanoes don’t just erupt because of pressure—they explode or ooze depending on how heat reshapes their magma’s crystal secrets. New research reveals that extreme heat can dissolve crystal seeds and smooth magma at the microscopic level, delaying solidification and letting magma surge faster to the surface. This delay can trigger explosive eruptions, while earlier crystal formation thickens magma and leads to gentler flows. Scientists recreated these conditions in labs, watching crystals form in real time—and found superheating can stall crystallization for over eight hours. The takeaway?…