Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected].
Could we use volcanoes to make electricity? – Lawrence, age 7, Dublin, California
Turning red-hot lava from an active volcano into electricity would be dangerous and unreliable. Volcanoes don’t erupt on predictable schedules, and lava cools too quickly. But many countries, including the U.S., have found ways to tap volcanic heat to make electricity.
Geothermal energy comes from heat generated by natural processes deep within the Earth. In most areas, this heat only warms rocks and underground water near the surface. In volcanically active regions, however, the heat is much more intense. Sometimes it melts rock, forming magma.
The future and its possibilities are something that you actively co-create with others. New research suggests that imagining together makes you closer and more connected to them in the here and now.
Oil and gas production facilities could reduce associated emissions by more than 80% by switching to electricity generated from renewables or natural gas designated for burning, a report