Scientists Say Yellowstone’s “Lid” Is Delaying Disaster

Well, stick a pin in that apocalyptic vision, because scientists have figured out what’s preventing the Yellowstone supervolcano from turning Montana into the world’s most scenic parking lot. It’s a lid. No, seriously. A block of hardened, solid rock is just sitting there like a bun on a lava cheeseburger, preventing all that inconvenient death soup from exploding into the sky.

Well, it seems that this “lid” is strong enough to withstand the pressurized magma chamber sitting below it, at least for the time being. The team says this finding may help to explain why Yellowstone has not erupted for the past 70,000 years.

Now, before you run out to fill your bathtub and stock up on beans, those scientists are also describing the risk of eruption as “very low.” But let’s be honest, if you live in Montana, you already know what this entails. We don’t bat an eye at snow in June, barely flinch when the ground rumbles, and most of us are more concerned with tourist season than volcanic ash.

That said, it is kind of wild to think that what’s preventing an ultimate Montana-style backyard barbecue is a hunk of rock. The very same state that features potholes swallowing trucks and elk playing chicken on the highway is also apparently sitting atop one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. We love to keep things spicy.

So sleep well knowing that Doomsday may still be thousands of years away. As long as Yellowstone can "keep a lid on it."