I'm no longer going to assume an interior stateroom is the cheapest option.I had an obstructed-view sea-terrace stateroom on the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. Lauren Mack I almost always book an interior stateroom because I don't spend a lot of time in my cabin and like saving money.Although this is often the cheapest option, I learned this year that it isn't always. In September, my father and I booked a last-minute cruise on the Disney Wish. We almost booked one of the many interior cabins available until I discovered a deluxe ocean-view stateroom with a verandah for over $100 cheaper. Turns out, it's wise to compare costs on different ships within the same cruise line.You may find yourself pleasantly surprised if newer cruise ships are cheaper to sail with than older ones. Lauren Mack When I booked my sailing on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander in July, I assumed my trip on this new ship would be more expensive than its older one. After all, the Islander is much nicer and has more amenities than the budget cruise line's Paradise ship that I sailed on in 2023.Much to my pleasant surprise, my trip on the newer ship cost less. My total per night for an interior stateroom was $93 on Islander compared to $165 on Paradise. Even though I'm a seasoned cruiser, joining online travel groups can still be helpful.I love sharing travel stories with other travelers and hearing their tips. Lauren Mack I haven't always been on top of joining and checking cruise-line and voyage-specific Facebook groups, but I think I will from now on.Many of these online groups contain a wealth of information, even for seasoned cruiser like me.You can find information on how cruise lines compare, photos of what staterooms actually look like, and practical advice for troubleshooting a slew of issues. After missing some sales and promotions, I plan to keep a better eye on my inbox and mailbox.Many cruise lines have special offers for people who are signed up for email lists. Lauren Mack By ignoring emails and promotional mailers about sales, I missed out on complimentary add-ons like drink packages and free WiFi in 2024.Even if I'm not sure when or where I want to cruise next, I plan to actually look at seasonal sales and offers in 2025 especially those that require low deposits or have flexible rules for payment. I wish I'd stayed on top of my credit-card offers, too.Bundling discounts and deals can save travelers a lot of money. Lauren Mack In the past year, I learned the value of enrolling in loyalty-match programs to score upgrades, onboard credits, and more. However, I'd forgotten to use offers from my American Express Blue Sky credit card.Now, I've started to check and use monthly offers each time I make my credit-card payment.After all, just a few years ago, I was able to use an AmEx offer to get hundreds of dollars back when using my card to pay for a Princess Cruise. Next year, I'll try not to forget to put important booking deadlines in my calendar.Sometimes it's helpful to mark when you can start booking parties, excursions, and dinner reservations. Lauren Mack When I book a cruise, I only pay the deposit. I put the due date for the final payment on my calendar, but I usually forget to mark anything else.In 2025, I want to better track important milestones, like the first day I can book onboard experiences and shore excursions.Because I forgot to do this in the past few months, I missed out on booking my first-choice Holland America Line excursion in Curaao and didn't get to reserve a beach cabana on Disney's Castaway Cay. Some of my embarkation days were wasted this year, so I want to start making the most of them.I want to be among the first on my cruises so I can kick off my vacations as soon as possible. Lauren Mack Moving forward, I want to take full advantage of each ship's embarkation day by boarding as early as possible.I've learned to pay attention to each cruise line's check-in procedure to see when I can select an early port arrival time.On Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, travelers who have completed online check-in can begin selecting arrival times 21 days before their sail date. Some cruise lines include early boarding in add-on packages or offer it via loyalty programs. Specialty dining will no longer be part of my cruise plans.I've had some good specialty meals at sea, but I don't know that the prices have always been worth it. Lauren Mack When I sail on a new cruise line, I splurge for specialty dining because I want to try every restaurant. However, more often than not, paying extra to eat in these places hasn't been worth it.In the past few months, I found myself particularly disappointed by the mediocre food at Asian-themed specialty restaurants at sea especially ones serving sushi.Plus, the specialty steakhouses are usually worth skipping because many cruises serve steak at least once in the main dining room at no extra cost. Before I book any cruise, I'm going to start looking into the ship's age.Many cruise lines' newer ships are far larger than the older ones. Lauren Mack When I've booked cruises in the past, I've focused on the price, ports, and length of a sailing. Moving forward, though, I'm going to look up the age of a ship to avoid disappointment.For most cruise lines, older ships tend to be smaller with fewer amenities, even if they've been recently refurbished. Plus, the ship's age can influence everything from stateroom size to ports of call.

Civilization VIIExplore, expand, exploit, exterminate: the rules of Civilization havent changed, but this devilishly compelling strategy series has long been due an overhaul. Next years instalment lets you pick and choose between many more different leaders and peoples to guide to world domination, from antiquity and through the age of exploration to the modern era peacefully, or otherwise. Released 11 February; all platformsGrand Theft Auto VIThe whole world is holding its breath for Rockstars latest. The first GTA game to star a woman Lucia, alongside her partner in crime, it is set in the wild Floridian environs of Vice City, the series version of Miami. Given that GTA V has grossed $8.5bn over its lifetime, this will inevitably be a megaton of a game. Release date TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PCLost Records: Bloom & RageA game about a group of teen band-friends drawn back together after 27 years, when one of them discovers a secret they shouldnt know about. From the original creators of coming-of-age classic Life is Strange, this beautiful-looking narrative game will flit between the magical summer of 1995 and the present day. Released 18 February; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PCAtomfall. Photograph: RebellionMonster Hunter WildsJapanese developer Capcom has been on an incredible run this decade, from a brilliant new Street Fighter to the revitalisation of Resident Evil to this, an awe-inspiringly expansive new entry in its dragon-slaying action series. The creatures are imposing, the weapons gloriously huge and improbable, and the environments lashed with lighting and blooming with natural diversity. Release date: 28 February; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PCAtomfallFans of The Last of Us and Fallout may perk up at the sight of this strangely cosy Lake District version of the post-apocalypse from British developer Rebellion. In this alternate timeline, the 1957 fire at the Windscale nuclear reactor has plunged Britain into a new age of desperate survival. There are pulpy references here, from Doctor Who to Quatermass. Released 27 March; PC, PS4/5, XboxDOOM: The Dark AgesThe venerable first-person shooter goes even more metal next year, with gothic castles and sci-fi dragons and a shield thats also a chainsaw and, of course, gore flying everywhere from hordes of demons. Im not sure I can improve on its developers description of the game: YOU ARE THE SUPER WEAPON IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL. Release date: TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PCMetroid Prime 4Destined, surely, for the yet-to-be-revealed successor to Nintendos incredibly successful Switch console, this space adventure has been in the works for around 10 years. The first three Metroid Prime games are standard-setting science-fiction masterpieces, so we are all hoping for something similarly revolutionary this time around from Retro Studios and iconic character Samus Aran. Release date: TBC; Nintendo SwitchDOOM: The Dark Ages. Photograph: BethesdaLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiThese games about colourful Japanese gangsters usually alternate between sombre self-seriousness and total ridiculousness, but here Sega is fully embracing its silly side by recasting flamboyant eye-patch-wearing villain Goro Majima as an amnesiac pirate on the high seas. An extravagant nautical action-adventure with naval combat, stylish sword-wielding, treasure-hunting and a much-needed dose of absurdity. Release date: 21 February; PC, PS4/5, XboxFableFeaturing Richard Ayoade and Matt King (Superhans from Peep Show), this comic fantasy adventure has the unenviable job of resuscitating a beloved series that has lain dormant for a long time. What weve seen so far happily suggests that it preserves the sense of humour and British sensibilities that have always made Fable unique. Release date: TBC; Xbox, PCClair Obscur: Expedition 33A French dark-fantasy game with a fascinating premise: each year, a mysterious supernatural painter daubs a number on a tower, in a torn-apart simulacrum of Paris, and everyone of that age vanishes Thanos-style into ash. You play the latest team of explorers sent out into the twisted wilds to try to stop it. A wondrous-looking game whose elaborate environments are frozen mid-destruction. Release date: TBC; PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC

The Echo Show 8 has always been Amazons sweet spot in their smart display lineup not too big, not too small, just right for most spaces. But this latest generation is more than just another screen with Alexa inside. Its a convenient little hub that finally delivers on the promise of making your smart home actually feel smart. And it can do a ton of other things, too.Heres where it gets interesting: Amazon has slashed the price from $150 to $85 a substantial 43% discount that saves you $65. At this price point, it transforms from a nice to have into a compelling smart home upgrade.See at AmazonYour personal smart home conciergeThis is the newest version of the Echo Show 8, so it has plenty of upgrades. The 8-inch HD display now pairs with spatial audio for a surprisingly immersive entertainment experience. The 13MP camera makes video calls look crisp and professional, while smart features like auto-framing keep you centered even when youre moving around your kitchen making dinner.What sets this generation apart is its built-in smart home hub, supporting Zigbee, Matter, and Thread devices without requiring additional hardware. This means your smart lights, cameras, and other devices can connect directly to the Show 8, simplifying your smart home setup and reducing clutter. Whats more, you can connect multiple devices to each other in different rooms. That means you can have something of an intercom system, use them for voice or video calls, or have better sound by way of multiple speakers.The adaptive content feature is particularly clever it shows you different information based on how far you are from the device. Glance at your calendar from across the room, or get detailed info when youre up close. Combined with the new Top Connections widget, it makes everyday tasks like video calling as simple as a single tap.For those concerned about privacy, Amazon has built in multiple layers of control, including physical mic muting and clear indicators when features are active. You wont have to worry about any potential eavesdroppers, so if thats a concern, you can kill it immediately.What you will want to concern yourself with is how affordable this deal is. Its going to be one of the last offers of the season, so if youre interested in trying one out, be sure you grab yours ASAP. It wont be around for very long, so go into the new year with some great savings.See at Amazon

There are worse ways to celebrate the new year than treating yourself to one of Apples state-of-the-art M3 laptops, especially when one of them has just taken an unexpected $200 price drop. Thats exactly whats just happened at Amazon, where the 13-inch 2024 MacBook Air is now on sale for $899, an 18% markdown that takes this powerhouse laptop nearly back to its Black Friday sale price.See at AmazonWeve become so used to seeing deals on refurbished MacBooks that we had to read this one twice, but its for real this is the newest, fastest version of the MacBook Air, powered by the revolutionary M3 chip and built for Apple Intelligence for unprecedented AI power and privacy protection.Work and Play All DayEven with the brand-new M3 chip driving the 2024 MacBook Air to its fastest performance ever up to 1.6 times faster than the MacBook Airs M1 model this version delivers up to an incredible 18 hours of life on a single battery charge, and can support up to 2 external displays when its lid is closed. The speed isnt just limited to the M3 processor, either the MacBook Air supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is up to 2x faster than Wi-Fi 6.The connections for the M3 MacBook Air are the simplest yet for a Apple laptop. Its powered by a newly redesigned MagSafe charging port, and the two Thunderbolt ports make for fast, stable, and reliable connections for displays, data transfer to portable hard drives, or any other parallel accessory you want to attach.The 2024 M3 MacBook Airs FaceTime HD camera has twice the resolution of the M1 MacBook Air, and with a brighter version of Apples Liquid Retina display and an improved 4-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, videoconferencing and calls will come through more clearly than ever before.Your iPhones New BestieThe M3 MacBook Air has more interactivity with the iPhone than ever before. The new iPhone Mirroring features let you answer calls and texts with your laptop far easier than previous iterations of the MacBook or the iPhone, and now you can scan documents and also copy and paste text across devices for the first time.The 2024 M3 MacBook Air lives up to its name by being incredibly portable its less than a half-inch thick with the lid closed, and weighs barely over 2.5 pounds. Its the ultimate combination of power, speed, and efficiency, and this unannounced Amazon sale dropping it back under $900 is just another reason to make the upgrade.See at Amazon

Theres something undeniably indulgent about wrapping yourself in a warm towel after a shower. Its the kind of small pleasure that turns an ordinary bathroom into a spa-like experience. The Sameat Heated Towel Warmer brings that luxury home, transforming your daily routine into something you actually look forward to.See at AmazonRight now, this little slice of luxury is even more attainable. Amazon has slashed the price from $100 to $80, offering a $20 savings on your personal comfort upgrade. At 20% off, its an affordable way to add a touch of luxury to your daily routine. And if youve never had a warm towel after a shower, its something youre going to want to experience yesterday. Trust us on this.Cozy comfort after a hot shower for lessThis towel warmer can can accommodate two oversized bath towels, robes, blankets, or even your favorite PJs. With its generous capacity, you could warm up tomorrows outfit while youre getting ready for bed, or keep your robe toasty while youre in the shower.Its smart, thermos-bucket design gets rid of cold spots, ensuring your towels are heated evenly throughout. The intuitive timer system offers flexibility with 30-minute, 1-hour, 2-hour, and 4-hour settings, all with automatic shutoff for peace of mind. And it heats up quickly, so theres no waiting around shivering for your towel to warm.Think of it as your personal comfort concierge. Step out of the shower into a warm embrace, start your day with toasty PJs, or wrap yourself in a heated blanket for movie night. Just remember to stick to cotton materials because this warmer isnt meant for synthetic fabrics or wet items. As long as you stick to the rules, youll be able to use this towel warmer for quite a long time to come. And you might even want to take it with you on vacation so you dont have to miss out on what it can do for you while you travel.For less than the cost of a couple of spa visits, you can bring that pampered feeling home permanently. At $80, its an affordable way to upgrade your daily routine from ordinary to extraordinary. Because sometimes, the smallest luxuries make the biggest difference in how we experience every day. And if youre needing that extra push to go out and get things done this winter since its such a cold one out there most days, youll love knowing you can look forward to a warm towel each day.See at Amazon

MJK Kindergarten / HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no Shiro + Kids Design LaboSave this picture!Courtesy of KIDS DESIGN LABOKindergartenKitakyushu, JapanArchitects: AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:921 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 ManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Bozo, GANTAN BEAUTY INDUSTRY, Runon Lead Architects: HIBINOSEKKEI More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This is a renovation project for an aging kindergarten with a capacity of 240 children located in Moji, Kitakyushu City. The site is situated in a residential area surrounded by the vast sea to the north and magnificent mountains to the south, it is blessed with nature. Particularly, influenced by the nearby "Midori Valley," the kindergarten's playground features a more than 3-meter difference in elevation. The existing site has been cherished by children as an attractive play area with natural playground equipment and abundant trees, serving as a space for symbiosis and learning. While carefully respecting this environment, the design blurs the boundaries between the inside and outside by bringing the external nature into the interior.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!All the classrooms are arranged on the ground floor, facing the playground in an L-shaped configuration, allowing children to spend their time while cherishing interaction with nature. The external corridor that connects the playground and classrooms resembles the veranda of a Japanese house, bringing the daily flow of movement semi-outdoors, enabling the children to constantly experience the changes in nature and weather. They can feel the rain falling from the roof and perceive the seasonal transitions brought by the wind. Through such daily experiences, children's sensibilities are refined, and they develop the ability to think and act on their own.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A courtyard is provided in the building, aiming to protect the existing trees that have been watching over the kindergarten since its establishment. Next to the courtyard, a dining area is located, featuring fully openable windows that allow children to enjoy meals while sensing the seasons and the changes in existing trees. By valuing the preservation of the existing trees, children cultivate an understanding of and respect for the environment, fostering an awareness of cherishing nature for a sustainable future.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In recent years, there has been a tendency in early childhood facilities to prioritize excessive safety and comfort. However, this kindergarten emphasizes children's autonomy and provides an environment that allows for free movement, always fostering a connection with nature. Through this approach, this building plays a role in nurturing children's sensibilities and promoting self-directed early childhood education.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Kitakyushu, JapanLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeHIBINOSEKKEIOfficeYouji no ShiroOfficeKids Design LaboOfficePublished on December 31, 2024Cite: "MJK Kindergarten / HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no Shiro + Kids Design Labo" 31 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025107/mjk-kindergarten-hibinosekkei-plus-youji-no-shiro-plus-kids-design-labo&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

When designing spaces with reduced dimensions, adopting an efficient configuration and distribution is crucial for the user experience and the smooth development of activities and tasks to be carried out. In the case of bars and restaurants, numerous architecture and interior design professionals strive daily to meet the needs of clients, employees, and employers, considering everything from necessary installations and technologies to services, atmospheres, and furniture suitable for the type of gastronomy to be consumed.

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In 2024, space exploration dazzled the world.NASAs Europa Clipper began its journey to study Jupiters moon Europa. SpaceXs Starship achieved its first successful landing, which is a critical milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Change 6 mission, which successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, the International Space Station continued to host international crews, including private missions like Axiom Mission 3.As an aerospace engineer, Im excited for 2025, when space agencies worldwide are gearing up for even more ambitious goals. Heres a look at the most exciting missions planned for the coming year, which will expand humanitys horizons even further, from the Moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond:Scouting the Lunar Surface With CLPSNASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon using commercial landers. CLPS is what brought Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander to the Moon in February 2024, marking the first U.S. Moon landing since Apollo.In 2025, NASA has several CLPS missions planned, including deliveries by companies Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly Aerospace.These missions will carry a variety of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to different lunar locations. The payloads will include experiments to study lunar geology, test new technologies for future human missions, and gather data on the Moons environment.(Credit: NASA/Firefly Aerospace)An illustration of Fireflys Blue Ghost Lander, which will bring scientific instruments to the lunar surface. Surveying the sky with SPHERExIn February 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, or SPHEREx, observatory. This mission will survey the sky in near-infrared light, which is a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye but that special instruments can detect. Near-infrared light is useful for observing objects that are too cool or too distant to be seen in visible light.SPHEREx will create a comprehensive map of the universe by surveying and collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies along with over 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Astronomers will use this data to answer big questions about the origins of galaxies and the distribution of water and organic molecules in stellar nurseries where stars are born from gas and dust.(Credit: NASA/BAE Systems)NASAs SPHEREx observatory will make the most colorful cosmic map. Studying Low Earth Orbit With Space RiderThe European Space Agency, or ESA, plans to conduct an orbital test flight of its Space Rideruncrewed spaceplane in the third quarter of 2025. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry out various scientific experiments in low Earth orbit.These scientific experiments will include research in microgravity, which is the near-weightless environment of space. Scientists will study how plants grow, how materials behave, and how biological processes occur without the influence of gravity.Space Rider will also demonstrate new technologies for future missions. For example, it will test advanced telecommunication systems, which are crucial for maintaining communication with spacecraft over long distances. It will also test new robotic exploration tools for use on future missions to the Moon or Mars.(Credit: ESA)Space Rider, shown in this illustration, will provide a reusable space transportation system for routine access to and from low Earth orbit. Exploring the Moon with M2/ResilienceJapans M2/Resilience mission, scheduled for January 2025, will launch a lander and micro-rover to the lunar surface.This mission will study the lunar soil to understand its composition and properties. Researchers will also conduct a water-splitting test to produce oxygen and hydrogen by extracting water from the lunar surface, heating the water and splitting the captured steam. The generated water, oxygen and hydrogen can be used for enabling long-term lunar exploration.This mission will also demonstrate new technologies, such as advanced navigation systems for precise landings and systems to operate the rover autonomously. These technologies are essential for future lunar exploration and could be used in missions to Mars and beyond.The M2/Resilience mission is part of Japans broader efforts to contribute to international lunar exploration. It builds on the success of Japans Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, mission, which landed on the Moon using a precise landing technique in March 2024.(Credit: ispace) An illustration of the Resilience lander and rover on the lunar surface. Investigating an Asteroid with Tianwen-2Chinas Tianwen-2mission is an ambitious asteroid sample return and comet probe mission. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, Tianwen-2 aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and study a comet. This mission will advance scientists understanding of the solar systems formation and evolution, building on the success of Chinas previous lunar and Mars missions.The missions first target is the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamooalewa. This asteroid is a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth. Kamooalewa is roughly 131-328 feet (40-100 meters) in diameter and may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected into space by a past impact event.By studying this asteroid, scientists hope to learn about the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. The spacecraft will use both touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach techniques to collect samples from the asteroids surface.After collecting samples from Kamooalewa, Tianwen-2 will return them to Earth and then set course for its second target, the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This comet is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.By analyzing the comets materials, researchers hope to learn more about the conditions that existed in the early solar system and possibly the origins of water and organic molecules on Earth.Solar System FlybysBesides the above-planned launch missions, several space agencies plan to perform exciting deep-space flyby missions in 2025.A flyby, or gravity assist, is when a spacecraft passes close enough to a planet or moon to use its gravity for a speed boost. As the spacecraft approaches, it gets pulled in by the planets gravity, which helps it accelerate.After swinging around the planet, the spacecraft is flung back out into space, allowing it to change direction and continue on its intended path using less fuel.Spacecraft can fly by a planet to get a boost using gravity.BepiColombo, a joint mission by ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, will make its sixth flyby of Mercury in January 2025. This maneuver will help the spacecraft enter orbit around Mercury by November 2026. BepiColombo aims to study Mercurys composition, atmosphere, and surface geology.NASAs Europa Clipper mission, which launched in October 2024, will make significant progress on its journey to Jupiters moon Europa. In March 2025, the spacecraft will perform a flyby maneuver at Mars.This maneuver will help the spacecraft gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its long voyage. Later in December 2026, Europa Clipper will perform a flyby of Earth, using Earths gravity to further increase its momentum so it can arrive at Europa in April 2030.The ESAs Hera mission will also perform a flyby of Mars in March 2025. Here is part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment mission, which plans to study the Didymos binary asteroid system. The mission will provide valuable data on asteroid deflection techniques and contribute to planetary defense strategies.NASAs Lucy mission will continue its journey to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiters orbit around the Sun, in 2025. One key event for Lucy is its flyby of the inner main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, scheduled for April 20, 2025.This flyby will provide valuable data on this ancient asteroids composition and surface features, which can help researchers gain insights into the early solar system. The asteroid is named after the paleoanthropologist who discovered the famous Lucy fossil.ESAs Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, mission will perform a Venus flyby in August 2025. This maneuver will help JUICE gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its journey to Jupiter. Once it arrives, JUICE will study Jupiters icy moons to understand its potential for harboring life.2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for space exploration. With NASAs ambitious missions and significant contributions from other countries, we are set to make remarkable strides in humanitys understanding of the universe. These missions will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire future generations to look to the stars.Zhenbo Wang is an Associate Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The current eruption at Klauea in Hawai'i that started just before Christmas is still rolling along. The activity from the major vents on the edge of the Halema'uma'u crater has waxed and waned some, but lava fountains reaching tens of meters (hundreds of feet) have been common for the past week. The USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory reports that lava from this eruption has covered two-thirds of the caldera floor. An overflight of the volcano on December 27 showed the extent of the new, dark, black lava flows from the eruption. A small cone has built up on the edge of the caldera where the vents have been most active. The most recent reports (December 30) from the HVO say that the summit area is slowly deflating but sulfur dioxide emissions are still high, which makes sense considering that the eruption is ongoing.Webcam image of lava flows across the Halema'uma'u Crater at Klauea from the December 2024 eruption. Credit: USGS/HVO.Shield volcanoes like Klauea see these cycles of eruption and collapse commonly. This is the sixth eruption that the summit caldera of Klauea has experienced in since 2000, with some events filling in the caldera while others help deepen it through more collapse. The most recent collapse event happened during the 2018 eruption, when the eruption on the East Rift Zone led to a collapse that doubled the width and deepened Halema'uma'u from 85 meters (280 feet) to 488 meters (1,600 feet) deep! Thing is, Halema'uma'u isn't a caldera, but rather a pit crater formed initially in the last few hundred years.Klauea's CalderaThe summit caldera of Klauea in Hawai'i seen by ESA's Sentinel-2 on December 25, 2024. Credit: ESA, annotated by Erik Klemetti.If you check a recent Sentinel-2 image of the summit of Klauea, you can see the generations of different collapses in the multiple calderas. I've numbered some different calderas or collapse craters at the summit, including the larger Kaluapele Caldera that formed in the late 1400s and early 1500s as well as Halema'uma'u Crater including the deeper down-dropped block from 2018. There are also smaller features (pit craters) like 1959's Klauea Iki.The full Kaluapele Caldera is a robust 4 kilometers (~2.7 miles across). It formed through gradual collapse unlike some other terrestrial calderas like Yellowstone or Crater Lake that formed thanks to very large explosive eruptions. Imagine the Kaluapele eruption forming as the magma that was holding the land up erupted as lava flows across Klauea over the course of months to years.The Largest CalderaThe summit calderas of Olympus Mons on Mars seen by ESA's Mars Express on January 21, 2004. Credit: ESA, processed by Andrea Luck/Flickr, annotated by Erik Klemetti.As big as Klauea's caldera seems, it is nothing compared to the multiple calderas found on top of the solar system's largest volcano, Olympus Mons on Mars. However, they do share a lot of similarities. Most likely, the many calderas on Olympus Mons formed thanks to copious lava flows draining the magma body inside the volcano rather than massive explosive eruptions. There is a sequence of calderas (and collapses) as well on Olympus Mons. I've numbered the sequence of caldera formation on ESA's Mars Express image taken on January 21, 2004. All of these calderas have names like Athena Patera, Hera Patera and Apollo Patera -- patera being the word we use for calderas on other planets or moons.However, they are big. The largest -- Zeus Patera (1 on my image) -- is at least 60 kilometers (37 miles) across and might be as large as 72 kilometers (45 miles) at its widest. Even a smaller one like Athena Patera (4 on my image) is 20 kilometers (12 miles) across, dwarfing Kaluapele Caldera on Klauea. Yet, all of these are the same volcanic feature formed by eruption and collapse. You could even imagine eruptions like we see on Klauea today happening many millions of years ago at Olympus Mons on Mars.Webcam capture showing the vents for the December 2024 eruption at Klauea in Hawai'i. Credit: USGS/HVO.You can still watch the current eruption at Klauea on the USGS-HVO summit webcam. As mentioned by HVO, these eruptions could be over in days ... or over a year. The fountaining going on right now suggests that the supply of magma to the summit is robust, so the lava will continue to pave the floor of Haluma'uma'u. It might be a lot smaller than its cousins on Mars, but we learn about distant volcanoes on other planets by watching eruptions like this on Earth.