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Scientists studying recent lava fountains at a Hawaiian volcano discovered that the ground was expanding at an extraordinary rate—up to half a meter per day—in the period before the fountaining began. This dramatic ground deformation provided a clear precursor signal to the volcanic activity, offering valuable insights into the subsurface processes driving the eruption. The observation highlights how monitoring volcanic deformation can serve as an early warning indicator for explosive activity. Understanding the relationship between ground expansion and lava fountain initiation helps volcanologists refine predictive models and potentially improve public safety measures in volcanic regions.