The one-of-a-kind blue color associated with the lava flows on Kawah Ijen volcano is not, as you might think, due to blue-colored lava. The scientific story is as fascinating as the images. (STÉPHANE DAMOUR / FLICKR)

This Erupting Volcano’s Lava Appears Blue, And Science Knows Why

Sometimes, chemistry can be more important for color than even physics.

All across the world, volcanic eruptions remind us of the destructive power residing beneath Earth’s surface.