What's been driving Hawaii's lava fountains?

The ground swelled by half a meter daily before lava fountains began, indicating magma buildup beneath the surface—more predictable than venture capital forecasts.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 10:37 PM ET, Saturday, October 10, 2026

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Tonight at 10:37 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Ars Technica's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by Ars Technica: “What's been driving Hawaii's lava fountains?”
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:37 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Hawaii.
BBN covered this story before: France's Luis and American Knibb win Ironman world titles in Hawaii (October 10).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Ars TechnicaWhat's been driving Hawaii's lava fountains?

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOn a lighter note, some science. Before Hawaii's lava fountains started, the ground was swelling by half a meter a day.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat's magma filling up underneath.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHalf a meter? The ground was inflating!
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentPressure, Kenji. Not a bouncy castle. Look at this file footage.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentGorgeous.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt warned everyone daily. That's more honesty than any startup pitch.

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