Cosmic Queries – Space Volcanoes: Fire and Ice with Natalie Starkey - StarTalk Radio Recap

Podcast: StarTalk Radio

Published: 2025-12-23

Duration: 56 minutes

Guests: Natalie Starkey

Summary

Natalie Starkey, alongside Neil deGrasse Tyson and Matt Kirshen, delves into the diversity of volcanoes across the solar system, emphasizing that most are ice volcanoes. They explore volcanic activity on various celestial bodies including Venus, Io, Enceladus, and Mars.

What Happened

Natalie Starkey, a geologist and author, joins Neil deGrasse Tyson and Matt Kirshen to discuss the fascinating world of space volcanoes. Starkey explains that most volcanoes in the solar system are actually ice volcanoes, especially those beyond the asteroid belt. This revelation challenges the common perception that volcanoes are primarily fiery, magma-spewing mountains like those on Earth.

The discussion highlights Venus, which is likely still volcanically active despite its thick atmosphere hindering direct observation. NASA and ESA are planning missions to study its geology and atmosphere further. Given Venus' extreme surface temperatures of 450 degrees Celsius, human exploration poses significant challenges.

Io, one of Jupiter's moons, is noted as the most volcanically active object in the solar system, constantly erupting plumes of rock. The intense volcanic activity on Io is driven by tidal forces from Jupiter, creating a dynamic and fiery landscape akin to Earth's primordial past.

In contrast, Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, features ice volcanoes that contribute material to Saturn's E-ring. The Cassini mission provided insights into Enceladus' icy plumes, revealing a subsurface salty ocean and hinting at the possibility of life beneath its icy crust.

Starkey also touches on Pluto's unique 'magma', which consists of water ice, ammonia, methane, and nitrogen due to its icy composition. This highlights the diversity of volcanic activity across the solar system, with each celestial body having unique volcanic characteristics.

Mars hosts Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, which stands three times higher than Mount Everest. Its massive size is attributed to Mars' weak gravity and lack of plate tectonics, allowing it to grow without collapsing under its own weight.

Key Insights

• Most volcanoes in the solar system are ice volcanoes, especially those found beyond the asteroid belt, challenging the perception that volcanoes are primarily fiery structures like those on Earth.
• Io, a moon of Jupiter, is the most volcanically active object in the solar system, with its intense activity driven by tidal forces from Jupiter, creating a dynamic landscape.
• Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, has ice volcanoes that contribute material to Saturn's E-ring, and the Cassini mission revealed a subsurface salty ocean, suggesting the potential for life.
• Olympus Mons on Mars is the largest volcano in the solar system, standing three times higher than Mount Everest, due to Mars' weak gravity and lack of plate tectonics.