In this issue, scientists play with plastic. Betcha didn’t know that subjecting plastics to high heat can tell you a lot about what a volcano was up to during its paroxysmal eruption. Even if you already did: awesome pictures! I think the USGS geologists liked demolished cars as much as most of you do.
If you’re fond of forests, take the next week to stock up on liquid courage and steel your backbone, sort of thing. You might notice, in this lovely side view of a battered truck, that there is no forest.
There’s a good reason for that…
In the words of a certain viral video, SO INTENSE! Although, in many ways, I’m even more astonished at how well the paint held up under those high temperatures.
Gotta love the way scientists think. They don’t just say “Wow, it got really hot!” They ask “How hot, and for how long? How can we find out?” And then set about figuring it out. Using melted taillights as proxies for thermometers is brilliant.
Excellent post. Intensely hot.
And some awesome science at work!
*thumbs up*
I have really enjoyed this series Dana. Thanks!
The pictures are great. I like being able to see the detail of the hot pumice embedded into the plastic of the taillight.
Just for fun, I went looking for a before picture of the pick-up truck grill. I found an appropriate one with a nice volcano in the background here.