In February of 1942, Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido thought he heard thunder coming from his cornfield. However, the sound wasn't coming from the sky. The source was a large, smoking crack emitting gas and ejecting rocks, and would come to be known as the volcano Paricutin. Where do new volcanoes like this come from, and what triggers their unpredictable eruption? Steven Anderson investigates. [Directed by Cabong Studios, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Astrolábio Studio / Julio Muzzi].

Steven Anderson: What makes volcanoes erupt?

What makes volcanoes erupt?

Paricutin's eruption reveals how magma's ascent, powered by gas-compound bubbles, reshapes the Earth, unveiling nature's force.

Unloading and hydrothermal alteration illustrate how volcanic eruptions can be triggered by both sudden and gradual earth changes.

Emerging tools like thermal imaging and spectrometers offer hope in unraveling volcanic mysteries, heralding a safer coexistence.