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Pantelleria via Shutterstock

This island - a celebrity favourite - used to be covered in hot green glass

45,000 years ago…

TODAY, IT IS visited by the likes of Madonna, Sting and Julia Roberts but, in the past, the island of Pantelleria was a hot destination in a different sense of the word.

Historians have confirmed this week that the secluded land – between Sicily and Tunisia – was once covered entirely in a searing-hot layer of green glass.

According to what has been described as a ground-breaking study by University of Leicester geologists, Pantelleria, a volcano, looked very different 45,000 years ago.

Volcanologists Drs Mike Branney and Rebecca Williams have dedicated themselves to uncovering previously unknown facts about the island’s physical history.

SpectacularSea Cliffs at Pantelleria volcano island Mike Branney / University of Leicester Mike Branney / University of Leicester / University of Leicester

Describing what happened those thousands of years ago, Dr Branney says:

“A ground-hugging cloud of intensely hot gases and volcanic dust spread radially out from the erupting volcano in all directions.

“Incandescent rock fragments suspended in the all-enveloping volcanic cloud were so hot, molten and sticky that they simply fused to the landscape forming a layer of glass, over hills and valleys alike.

The hot glass then actually started flowing down all the slopes rather like sticky lava. ‘Ground zero’ in this case was the entire island — nothing would have survived — nature had sterilised and completely enamelled the island.

“Today Pantelleria is verdant and has been re-colonised, but even as you approach it by ferry you can see the green layer of glass covering everything — even sea cliffs look like they’ve been draped in candle wax. Exactly how this happened has only recently come to light.”

As part of their work, the Leicester team has recontructed how the incandescent density current gradually inundated the entire island.

They mapped out how the chemistry of the glass varied from place to place to show how the current gradually advanced from the low, central areas to the hills.

They were also able to prove that the glass current then retreated from the hilltops so that by the end of the eruption, only the area close the volcano was covered with the green stuff.

This could be significant to events today, say the researchers, as it may help gain a better understanding of undersea currents that are triggered by earthquakes.

But first they have to find out if this volcanic eruption was just a “freak, oddball event”.

“Well, it turns out that the delightful island, now used as a quiet getaway by celebrities, has been the site of at least five catastrophic eruptions of similar type.

“The remarkable volcanic activity on the island was not just a one-off.  And as the volcano continues to steam away quite safely, it seems reasonable that in thousands of years time, it may once again erupt with devastating effect.

“Our investigations should help us understand what happens during similar and much larger explosive eruptions elsewhere around the world, such as the Yellowstone–Snake River region of USA.”

Read: ‘Biggest dinosaur ever’ would have weighed the same as 14 African elephants

More: “Unstoppable” melting of Antarctic ice will have major impact on sea level, scientists warn 

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    Mute páraicS
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:29 AM

    Aggravated burglary? The man was known to his attackers!

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    Mute John Considine
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:29 PM

    @páraicS: that’s not a good defence.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:40 PM

    @páraicS: glad the gardai ard on it

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    Mute páraicS
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:03 PM

    @John Considine: My point is it wasn’t a burglary. They went there with the intention of attacking the man In question. What they did is abhorrent but burglary it wasn’t!

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:18 PM

    @páraicS: look up burglary in the law will before commenting

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    Mute superdooper
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:59 PM

    @páraicS: it definitely was a burglary. You need to look up the definition

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:34 PM

    Dragging somebody out of bed and dousing them in petrol is attempted murder. How can it be aggravated burglary when nothing was stolen?

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    Mute superdooper
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:00 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: that’s not what burglary is. Look up the definition

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:10 PM

    @superdooper: a man was doused in petrol and set alight. Aggravated Burglary should be the least of their worries, Greivious Bodily Harm at least if not attempted murder , I think the maximum sentence should apply here if found guilty.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:24 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: enter as trespassers wih intent to commit an arrestable offence.. dont have to steal anything.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:54 PM

    @Martin Gordon: We know that they entered the premises and did commit an arrestable offence…. attacking a man with a machete and an exhaust pipe then dousing him in petrol setting him alight..
    Why are you defending these scxm ?? Say what it is ….

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: it’s an aggravated burglary

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:12 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: I’m not defending. it is what it is. it is also attempted murder. I’m not saying it isn’t that. the attempted murder is the arrestable offence in the burglary. look up aggravated burglary. educate yourself.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:12 PM

    @Martin Gordon: idiot

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:16 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: thank god you dont work for the Dpp

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:57 PM

    The whole sentencing system should be reformed. Longer sentences for crimes. Life for murder should be life.
    There was a time when you saw a garda it meant something. Now there is no fear. Two garda shot at during week. Thats atemted murder.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:20 PM

    @Dave Barrett: the sentencing and grammar systems by some commenters on here
    leave a lot to be desired.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 1st 2020, 4:07 PM

    @WreckDefier: Can we get a job like yours. always wanted to be in the grammar and spelling police. Ops! I forgot the I before always.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Feb 1st 2020, 5:17 PM

    @Dave Barrett: In fairness it’s hard to miss atemted which murdered attempted

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    Mute calvin healy
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:40 AM

    Share the info you have with the gardai so.

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    Mute Michael Bannon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:35 PM

    THERE IS NO REAL PUNISHMENT FOR aggravated burglary.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:44 PM

    @Michael Bannon: maximum sentence 14 years

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:26 PM

    @Michael Bannon: if they are caught they will be charged with more than aggravated burglary, like assault causing serious harm etc..

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:19 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: maximum sentence for aggravated burglary is life. not 14 years. just another thing you’re wrong about.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 8:44 PM

    @Michael Bannon: life sentence Michael.. literally the maximum sentence punishment there is. back to law school for you.

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    Mute Jason Quinn
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 6:57 AM

    @Martin Gordon: really Mr Gordon the vile piece of filth that ended my mum’s life in 02 is getting out soon and has been out on 2 day releases

    My mum will never have a day release.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Jason Quinn: sorry to hear that. I’m just stating facts to people who are putting up wrong facts. unfortunately our justice system is very flawed. and life does not mean life.

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    Mute Sos
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:25 PM

    I know people are saying these guys were at their wits end but this was a barbaric attack. To go back out and get the petrol is controlled. That’s not just losing the head.

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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:57 PM

    Think these 2 guys voluntarily made statements to the guards a few weeks ago.

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    Mute John O Brien
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    Feb 1st 2020, 5:48 PM

    He deserved a lot more that a drop of petrol for what he did.

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    Mute DazLock
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:55 PM

    Aggravated Buggary

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    Mute Anna69
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:08 PM

    waiting here boys…

    http://69-chat.club

    only 18+

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    Mute Alan Mooney
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Anna69: anna.. Men are wrong and misspelling words on the internet.. We’ve no time for your sexy shenanigans

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