Water usually quenches fire, but scientists are wary about how those elements interact in a volcano.

Kilauea, at rest after the prolonged 2018 eruptions, has a newly discovered pond of water at the bottom of Halemaumau Crater — water that could prove explosive.

Meanwhile, over at Yellowstone National Park’s famous water spouts, some wonder about recently quickening geyser activity. Experts foresee no lava eruption, but if they’re wrong, that “supervolcano” would dwarf anything Kilauea could produce.

Eyeing the Canary Islands

Thirty Meter Telescope officials said this week that news of their application for a Canary Islands building permit does not mean they’re giving up on Hawaii.

In response, activist Kealoha Pisciotta, who has led the lengthy — and now tapped-out — legal challenge against building the next-generation telescope on Mauna Kea, suggested that switching to a “Plan B” site on La Palma island would “be a win for everyone.”

Not for TMT’s supporters. Hawaii island, which offers an ideal location for the telescope, was selected as its home more than a decade ago. TMT’s backers are dismayed to see protesters continuing to block the start of construction work.