When we think of something “burning,” we imagine flames that need oxygen to stay alive. A campfire, stove flame, or candle—all depend on oxygen in the air. But deep inside the Earth, there is no oxygen-rich atmosphere , no flames… Yet the Earth’s mantle remains extremely hot , constantly generating magma (lava underground) and fueling volcanic eruptions. So how does the mantle stay hot without oxygen? Does it “burn”? Is lava the result of fire? Let’s explore the real science behind Earth’s internal heat—an astonishing story billions of years in the making. 🌍 Fire vs. Lava: They Are NOT the Same Thing The first thing to understand is this: 🔥 Fire = Chemical Reaction (needs oxygen) 🌋 Lava = Melted Rock (does NOT need oxygen) Fire is a chemical process where a substance reacts with oxygen. Lava is simply rock that has melted due to intense heat and pressure — no burning, no flames. So the mantle and lava are not burning . They are hot , but not because of fire....