• Tectonic link found between Ontong Java Plateau and Louisville hotspot chain

    A new study from the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaiʻi has revealed surprising connections between two major volcanic features in the Pacific. By tracing the Louisville hotspot as the source of both the Ontong Java Plateau and a series of underwater volcanoes, the researchers have uncovered fresh insights into the Pacific Ocean’s geological history. This discovery challenges old ideas and offers a clearer picture of how the seafloor and the islands above it have formed over millions of years.

  • First real-time observation of volcanic eruption on a mid-ocean ridge

    Scientists aboard the Alvin submersible witnessed an active volcanic eruption at the Tica hydrothermal vent on April 29, 2025, along the East Pacific Rise. The event, which buried a vibrant ecosystem under fresh lava, marks the first confirmed real-time observation of such an event on a mid-ocean ridge.

  • Unrest at dormant Uturuncu volcano driven by gas and fluid movement, not magma

    A new study published in PNAS provides the most detailed view to date of the dormant Uturuncu volcano in southwestern Bolivia, revealing that its long-standing ground deformation and seismic unrest are driven by the movement of hot fluids and gases, not by magma ascent. Researchers conclude there is no immediate eruption risk, but confirm that a deep magmatic system remains active beneath the surface.

  • Axial Seamount showing signs of approaching eruption as magma builds up off Oregon coast

    Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano off the Pacific Northwest coast, could erupt soon for the first time in a decade. Scientists at the University of Washington have detected a sharp increase in small undersea earthquakes and seafloor inflation — signs of magma buildup within the volcano. Despite the activity, experts say there is no threat to coastal communities. The site remains under constant observation through one of the world’s most advanced ocean monitoring systems.