【The Intern - A Summer of Lust】

No,The Intern - A Summer of Lust there isn't a supervolcano brewing beneath New England, despite what some media outlets are saying.

That said, something weird is going on about 100 miles below the lush New England ground.

Scientists have found a mass of warmer rock that appears to be welling upwards. This research, led by geophysicist Vadim Levin, appeared last year in the scientific journal Geology.

SEE ALSO: Deep beneath the Pacific, another active Hawaiian volcano waits to emerge

"We never advocated it could lead to volcanism," Levin, who performs research at Rutgers University–New Brunswick's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said in an interview.

This mass of warmer rock -- relative to the rock around it -- is nowhere near becoming a volcano.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"It's basically a blob of hotter rock that rises through cooler rock," Jess Phoenix, a volcanologist that took no part in the study, said in an interview.

In a press release about the research, Levin is quoted as saying it will take "millions of years" for this blob of hot rock to "get where it's going." But this doesn't mean the rocks will melt or lead to a supervolcano or any volcano at all.

"The one thing you can be absolutely sure of -- nothing is going to happen on the surface of New England involving volcanic activity in your lifetime or that of countless generations to come given its current geological situation," Stanley Mertzman, a volcanologist at Franklin and Marshall College who had no involvement with the study, said via email.

"I just hope some sort of human related descendant is still in existence on Earth given how far into the future this REMOTELY POSSIBLE event might be."

Scientists have known that this hot mass of rock existed under the region for decades, Phoenix said.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

But Levin and his team advanced the understanding of the geologic oddity, using a sophisticated technology called Earthscope, which employs thousands of seismic devices spaced throughout the country to "see" what's happening deep beneath the ground.

"It's basically a large antenna looking down into the Earth," said Levin.

"The cool story that should come out of it is that scientists have a new technology," said Phoenix.

"That's the story."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Levin is interested in how this 200-kilometer (125-mile) long mass of warmer rock might behave over time, and how it came to be.

"It exists -- we can see it -- but why does it exist?" asks Levin.

It's all the more curious, he said, because New England shows no evidence of active geologic activity for 200 million years. Levin plans to continue studying the area, and hopes to have more answers, perhaps in a decade's time.

Sometimes, hot masses of rising warmer rock can push up and contribute to mountain formation, like in the case of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, said Phoenix, who noted these iconic peaks are not volcanic.

The hot rock well beneath New England, though, isn't close even meeting the definition of a volcano.

"To even be a volcano you have to have stuff coming out of it," said Phoenix.

And the hot rock under New England is certainly no "supervolcano," capable of erupting at least 240 cubic miles of magma, like Yellowstone.

"The reader should immediately take away the fact that there was no liquid (magma) detected by this particular study. So, NO SUPER PLUME," Mertzman said.

For those comparing this developing geologic research to a burgeoning supervolcano, scientists are largely unimpressed.

"It's terrible journalism," said Phoenix.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Ever wonder how the universe might end?

---

• Digital Culture
• Entertainment
• Life
• Tech
• Science
• Social Good
• Shopping
• Deals

• How to Easily Make iPhone Ringtones Using Only iTunes
• Tarana Burke launches #MeTooVoter to hold political leaders accountable
• Google unveils Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL after so, so many leaks
• Chance the Rapper will both host and perform on 'SNL; this October
• Best robot vacuum deal: Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop at record
• Artist fights street harassment through photos depicting Goddesses
• Disney's back catalog is coming to Disney+. Here are all the titles.
• Tinder's in
• Harrison Ford isn't a fan of the Trump administration's climate agenda
• Google unveils new high

• Here are the best memes of 2019 (so far)
• Yes, the nodding meme guy is Robert Redford not Zach Galifianakis
• The best viral videos of 2019 (so far)
• 'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for December 6
• Car catches fire during gender reveal gone spectacularly wrong
• 'The White Lotus' gave us a major Lucia hint in episode 1
• Meta's new idea: Your tweets, but on Instagram
• Watch Mariah Carey's incredibly, perfectly extra bottle cap challenge
• Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for December 4
• IKEA creates sofa font after the internet memed their design tool

• NYT Connections hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve 'Connections' #707.
• Beyoncé fans are still in shock after that Grammys result
• Scooter rental companies are at the mercy of cities
• #FacebookLockout: Facebook users report being locked out for reporting scammers and fake accounts
• Best Samsung Frame deal: Free Music Frame with Frame Pro art TV purchase
• 26 things that take longer than Eliud Kipchoge's two
• Electric Harley
• Microsoft adds Office and emoji keys to new keyboards
• Mac Mini M2 Desktop deal: Save $100 at Best Buy
• Uber announces plans to deliver groceries with Cornershop

• TikTok wants me to host a dinner party. Is that an actual recession indicator?
• Reddit wants more teen users. Can Snapchat help?
• Coinbase CEO calls Libra scrutiny 'un
• Microsoft adds Office and emoji keys to new keyboards
• The cicadas aren't invading the U.S.
• India plans to rename all its airports and it makes a lot of sense
• 'Shooting Stars' meme blends epic fails with one electro track and it's taking over
• Apple's iPhone SE 2 might cost $399 and come in early 2020
• Best portable power station deal: Save 44% on the Jackery Explorer 100 v2
• Google's unique new Chromebook laptop leaked in photos and video