Detecting volcanic eruptions on Earth is detective work; doing it on the Red Planet is a feat of cosmic proportions. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek welcomes Dr. Allison Graettinger (UMKC) to discuss the hunt for "Maars"—violent, steam-driven volcanoes—on Mars.

We explore the sociology of becoming a scientist, from muddy kid to volcano expert, & how these unassuming circular lakes are actually clues to subsurface water & ice. Discover the Marvelous Database, the physics of thermal inertia, & why a rubber duck named "Ducky" is the most famous attendee at international science conferences.

Topics Covered

• Phreatomagmatism: Breaking down the explosive interaction between magma and groundwater.
• The Marvelous Database: A global catalog of 430+ Earth Maars used as a training set for planetary discovery.
• Career Paths: Why New Zealand and Nicaragua were the "Permissive Environments" Dr. Graettinger needed to grow.
• Geologic Hazards: The moving threat zones of distributed volcanic fields.
• Experiments: Pouring molten lava onto "sand popsicles" to simulate Martian ice interactions.
• Planetary Detectives: Using crater shapes (even "Mickey Mouse" ones) to map hidden Martian water.

Chapters

(00:00) Maars on Mars: A Tongue Twister

(02:10) Phreatomagmatic Diatremes Defined

(03:45) Guest: Dr. Allison Graettinger

(05:15) Sociology: Permission to Study Lava

(06:40) Field Work: Dust, Ash, and Gas

(08:30) Why Study Maars? Hazards and Risks

(10:45) Scaling Eruptions: VEI vs. St. Helens

(12:35) Distributed Volcanic Fields Explained

(17:15) Physics of Magma-Water Interaction

(21:50) The Marvelous Database Project

(26:50) Remote Sensing: Thermal Inertia

(30:10) Mars vs. Earth: Gravity and Shape

(34:40) Searching for Craters on Mars

(36:40) "Goofing" with Lava and Ice Popsicles

(41:10) Methane, Permafrost, and CO2 Ice

(43:55) Mapping Water for Future Missions

(48:25) Ducky: The Scientist’s Companion

(51:00) The Science Joke

Links & Resources

• Support: Pateron
• Socials: Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook

Whimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).