Supervolcano!

For some reason, a lot of television shows are discussing the danger that lurks beneath one of our nation's most valuable treasures. From ER to Alias, every drama litters its dialogue with tales of potential woe for half of the United States of America.

Magma is bubbling underneath the ground and is threatening to emerge in a terrifying explosion which will only leave a gaping caldera, i.e. a cauldron-shaped depression, where once Yellowstone National Park once stood and would lead to dire global consequences--another ice age! For once, television is not exagerrating. Of course, this event may not transpire for another thousand years or so, but it is still a threat.

Fortunately, our friends at the USGS (United States Geological Survey) have provided a wonderful webpage dedicated to the Yellowstone Volcano; however, if you would prefer to keep such research limited to television viewing, the Discovery Channel recently aired the docudrama, Supervolcano. Unfortunately, I do not have cable so I will have to settle with the detailed webpage with a scientific veneer until the DVD is released. Mmmmm, veneer.