​Around 10 million years ago, a hot spot under the Earth’s mantle caused vertical flows of magma to well up and cause a plume of thick, mineral-rich lava to create the volcanic island that is my home. These lava tubes are the ‘hot stuff’ I have recreated.
Planet Earth and Jupiter’s moon, Io, still have active volcanoes, and so may Venus and Mars. Their volcanic activity acts as a window to the ancient interiors of these celestial bodies. On a neighbouring island, rivers of fiery lava still ooze down slopes and across the ground, slowly crawling towards the ocean. Standing in the solidified lava fields, I can feel the heat through my shoes.