Maars on Mars: Mapping Volcanic Water Interactions on the Red Planet

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 CoveredPhreatomagmatism: 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 JokeLinks & ResourcesSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical 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).