For years now, questions have surrounded volcanoes and the consequentional lava. Particularly peculiar questions like what will happen if a human falls into an active volcano?
A simulation of what would actually happen has gone viral on the internet. A decade old video has resurfaced on Twitter demonstrating an experiment involving throwing a 30-kilogram bundle of organic waste (similar to human physiology, eliciting the same response) into Erta Ale, an active volcano in Ethiopia, to simulate what happens if a human falls into it.
In the video, it's seen that once the waste is dropped, the first layer of solidified ash that forms over molten lava breaks and submerges to waste as it enters the lava lake.
Soon after, lava fountain bubbles are seen and they grow in response to the breakage.
Since it was shared, the video has garnered 8.7 million views and over a lakh likes.
The original video was shared 10 years ago on YouTube on Photovolcanica, a channel run by geothermal enthusiasts. The video's captions reads, 'It is frequently discussed whether it is possible to sink in lava. Due to its high density, a person would generally be expected to remain on the surface.
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Indeed it is possible to briefly walk on certain types of lava if professional heat-protective clothing is worn (do not try yourself). However, the video shows that falling from a height, a large object and thus also a person would be able to penetrate the crust of the lake and submerge in it.'
The caption then goes on to add that the experiment was carried out using a cardboard box filled with camp waste (mostly food rests) weighing 30 kilograms with dimensions 60x60x60 cm. The waste's drop heigh is estimated to be approximately 80 metres. The lake erupts with violent lava owing to steam produced by organic matter.