ClimateAugust 11, 2026
obsidian
ob-SID-ee-uhn
Definition
A hard, dark, naturally occurring volcanic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'obsidianus,' which is a variant of 'obsianus,' named after Obsius, a Roman who supposedly first discovered the stone in Ethiopia.
In the news
In the article, obsidian is mentioned as proof of ancient travel because its unique chemical signature allows archaeologists to identify exactly which volcanic source it came from.
Ancient Maltese seafarers likely navigated by the stars
Read the full article ↗Phys.org