Astronomy
The Role of Tidal Heating in the Geology of Io
Quick fact
Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system, with over 400 active volcanoes. The heat that drives them comes not from the Sun, but from the gravitational muscle of Jupiter and its fellow moons, a process called tidal heating.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a world where the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet, with volcanic eruptions reshaping the landscape every few months. That world is Io, Jupiter's innermost moon—but what fuels its relentless fire?