StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Space Volcanoes: Fire and Ice with Natalie Starkey
Dec 23, 2025
In this captivating discussion, cosmochemist Natalie Starkey delves into the fiery and icy realms of volcanoes beyond Earth. She explores the intriguing concept of cryovolcanoes and their presence on moons like Enceladus, revealing how ice erupts from ocean worlds. Natalie also sheds light on volcanism on Venus and Mars, their unique challenges, and even debates the menacing activity of Io compared to Olympus Mons. Plus, discover why supervolcanoes like Yellowstone are not imminent threats. A geological journey across the solar system awaits!
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Ice Volcanoes Outnumber Hot Ones
- Most volcanoes in the solar system beyond the asteroid belt are cryovolcanoes made of ice, not rock.
- Icy moons can be active because internal heating melts subsurface ice into oceans that erupt as plumes.
Tidal Heating Drives Wild Activity
- Io is the most volcanically active object and erupts molten rock continuously due to tidal heating from Jupiter.
- Enceladus vents plumes of salty ice and silica from a subsurface ocean, forming Saturn's E-ring.
Study Supervolcanoes To Reduce Panic
- Monitor supervolcanoes closely because smaller eruptions can relieve pressure and reduce catastrophic risk.
- We can detect warning signs well in advance by studying magma chambers and seismic activity.