NASA is watching the birth of a new island in real time
Stephanie Nims
ByStephanie Nims•
July 21, 2026Updated: July 21, 2026, 6:01 am EDTPublished: July 20, 2026, 5:03 pm EDT

A newly discovered underwater volcanic eruption is unfolding north of Papua New Guinea, and it could become a new island. In one of the least-mapped ocean basins on Earth, NASA satellites have captured steam-rich volcanic plumes rising from the sea, along with thermal hotspots and floating volcanic rock. These clear signs of shallow eruption have scientists watching in real time to see whether a brand-new island is about to be born.

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