Lava meets snow: Viral video debunks AI conspiracy theories
A recording showing an unusual interaction between lava and snow in Iceland has caused quite a stir online. Some viewers thought it was the work of artificial intelligence, but the creator of the footage confirms – it's all real.
The astonishing video footage by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove shows flowing lava from the Sundhnúkagígar craters gradually advancing over the snow-covered terrain of Iceland. The recording is from an eruption in February 2024, which is part of a larger series of eruptions from Sundhnúkur that have been causing destruction since 2023, including damage to buildings in the town of Grindavík. It was made using a drone.
Fire versus ice in a unique recording
After being published on social media, the video quickly gained significant popularity, reaching over 500,000 likes, reports IFLS Science, which reminded its audience about the footage. However, some internet users were convinced that the recording was created using artificial intelligence.
The author denied these speculations, assuring that the film is authentic and wasn't tampered with or sped up. "I find this so fascinating because it demonstrates beautifully how us humans can still be surprised by how unique nature is," Van Nieuwenhove wrote in a social media post. "It shows how we perceive something to be fake because we can’t comprehend it. Isn’t that interesting?," he added.
Doubts also arose due to the absence of steam – surprising given the contact of hot lava with snow. Curious about this phenomenon, Van Nieuwenhove consulted with experts, who explained that the phenomenon might be due to the Leidenfrost effect. Described for the first time in the 18th century, this effect explains that liquid near a hot surface forms an insulating layer of gas, protecting it from rapid evaporation. Therefore, at the contact point of snow and lava, no steam is formed, but rather an insulating layer of gas, reports IFL Science.
Van Nieuwenhove notes that many people have misconceptions about the properties of lava, which might be due to special effects in films. "One thing I have realized while documenting the ongoing series of eruptions in Iceland the last four years is that most people perceive how lava should ‘behave’ incorrectly. I suspect special effects in movies have something pretty significant to do with that. People are surprised by what it looks like, how it moves, how it sounds, and how it interacts with its surroundings," he emphasised.
