Pluto, the once-planet now classified as a dwarf planet, has recently been found to have volcanoes that erupted within the past two billion years. This is a significant discovery given the cosmic timescale, suggesting that Pluto is not just a frozen, lifeless rock in space. The two volcanic features on Pluto, Wright Mons and Piccard Mons, tower over the surface and were created by multiple eruption sites located close to each other.

These findings were made possible by the New Horizon spacecraft, which flew past Pluto in July 2015 and captured images of the dwarf planet. The images revealed the two volcanic features, which are primarily made up of water-ice material, indicating the presence of cryovolcanic activity.

It is surprising that Pluto has volcanoes given its neighbors can’t generate the tidal and gravitational forces required to warm its interior. With an average surface temperature around -240°C, it is unlikely for active volcanoes to exist on Pluto. However, the study suggests that these volcanic features show that Pluto isn’t as calm as it appears.

The discovery of active volcanoes on Pluto hints at the possibility of life existing on the dwarf planet. These findings challenge the notion that Pluto is a dead and barren world and instead suggest that there may be more to this small planet than we previously thought.

In conclusion, the recent studies revealing Pluto’s volcanic activity offer a new perspective on this dwarf planet. With its cryovolcanic activity and the possibility of life existing on the planet, Pluto proves to be a fascinating object of study for researchers and space enthusiasts alike.