A Scientist And Artist Make Lava From Scratch

Now you don't have to travel to the far ends of the Earth to see this phenomenon up close.

If you can't travel to volcanoes' remote locations to see lava, make it yourself!

Disney Pixar / Via bustle.com

That's exactly what two men did for the Syracuse University Lava Project, an ongoing collaboration between a geologist and sculptor to produce natural-scale lava flows for experiments as well as art.

As part of NPR's Skunk Bear series "Field Trip," host Adam Cole visited upstate New York to see the home-brewed lava himself.

NPR's Skunk Bear / Via youtube.com

Can we just pause for a moment to marvel at this title?

To make the lava, the team uses a massive repurposed cauldron and carefully dispensed basalt — and a buttload of experimentation.

After hundreds of tries, Cole got to see the latest batch of hot, fresh lava.

NPR's Skunk Bear / Via youtube.com

At 1,035 degrees, it got a little roasty. The project uses the lava for all sorts of science experiments that people would otherwise never get to see up close.

And some cooled off boogers, too.

NPR's Skunk Bear / Via youtube.com

Cooled and solidified lava bits are named after Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess of volcanoes.

Relive your school days and take the whole field trip below.

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