Alkaline lava has a melting temperature in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The fluidity and extreme temperature of Nyiragongo's lava make for a particularly deadly combination during eruptions.

Abby Tang: This is lava. And this is also lava ... and gradually bring the rocks up to temperature. More from Science ...

Video footage shows a geologist scooping molten lava into a bucket of water before it is taken away for testing. The lava has a thin crust on it that's caused by air cooling, so the geologist has ...

Temperature and plant production plummeted, and dinosaurs and many other organisms that were poorly adapted to the harsh conditions perished. Immense lava flows cover nearly 200,000 square miles ...