Fire and ice? More like fire and innovation. Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, dormant for 800 years, has roared back to life with 11 volcanic eruptions since 2021 – and scientists are racing to decode its secrets. 🔍
Reya El-Salahi of RAZOR met volcanologists at the University of Iceland’s Nordic Volcanological Centre, where Professor Simon Matthews and his team analyze lava samples like detectives at a crime scene. 🔬 ‘Every eruption tells a story,’ says Matthews, whose work helps predict future activity by studying minerals in molten rock.
But this isn’t just about science – it’s survival. Iceland already uses geothermal energy to power 90% of homes. Now, a chance discovery at the HS Orka Svartsengi plant near the eruption zone helped forecast recent volcanic activity, proving nature and tech can team up. ⚡
Enter the Krafla Magma Testbed – a project straight out of a sci-fi movie. Scientists aim to drill into a magma chamber for the first time ever, hoping to revolutionize disaster prediction and clean energy. ‘It’s like tapping into Earth’s battery,’ one researcher quips. But with magma temps hitting 1,300°C, this high-risk mission could rewrite the rules of renewable energy. 🌍✨
