Latest Fumarole Stories

University of Colorado scientists detect microscopic life near 19,850 feetGases rising from deep within the Earth are fueling the world's highest-known microbial ecosystems, which have been detected near the rim of the 19,850-foot-high Socompa volcano in the Andes by a University of Colorado at Boulder research team.The new study shows the emission of water, carbon dioxide and methane from small volcanic vents near the summit of Socompa sustains complex microbial ecosystems new to science in...

In the latest sign that an eruption could be imminent, further seismic activity has been detected at Alaska's Mount Redoubt, scientists reported Saturday.  "Since late Friday afternoon, seismic activity has been relatively low at Redoubt; however, it is still above normal background levels," the Alaska Volcano Observatory said early Saturday."The volcano is in a state of unrest," it said.Geologists monitoring the volcano for indications of a possible eruption noticed...

Tempe, Ariz. -- Deposits of nearly pure silica discovered by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in Gusev Crater formed when volcanic steam or hot water (or maybe both) percolated through the ground. Such deposits are found around hydrothermal vents like those in Yellowstone National Park. That's the conclusion of planetary scientists working with data collected by the rover's Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES), developed at Arizona State University.The silica discovery,...