Scientists create lava just to see it explode

Forbes and other news outlets worldwide covered volcanology research led by Ingo Sonder, research scientist in the Center for Geohazards Studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences. In a series of explosive experiments, Sonder and his team made their own lava and injected it with water to investigate the basic physics of lava-water interactions. The long-term goal of this work: Better understanding the risk that volcanoes near water sources pose to communities. Sonder’s team published its first results on Monday. Greg Valentine, professor of geology and director of the Center for Geohazards Studies, was a co-author, along with a UB PhD candidate and two postdocs who have since completed their work at UB and started careers at other academic institutions.