Science: Upstart & Old Timer

Two active volcanoes got into the news last week. One is so young (four years) that science has studied only the first few geological moments of its infancy. The other is so old that its fiery record antedates human history.

Young Paricutin. In Mexico, the infant volcano Paricutin was marked as a sightseeing highlight of Harry Truman's trip below the border (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS).

When Paricutin first poked its red-hot nose out of Dionisio Polido's cornfield on Feb. 20, 1943, geologists predicted it would soon die down. But it fooled the experts and kept on growing. In its first year, spewing lava, ash...

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