A lava lamp is a decorative lamp in which a colored, translucent liquid wax rises and falls through a clear, viscous liquid. A heat source at the bottom of the lamp heats the wax, causing it to become less dense than the surrounding liquid. This causes the wax to rise to the top of the lamp, where it cools and becomes more dense, causing it to sink back down to the bottom. This cycle of rising and falling wax creates a mesmerizing effect that is similar to that of a volcanic eruption.
Lava lamps were first invented in the 1960s by Edward Craven Walker, a British accountant. Walker was inspired to create the lava lamp after seeing a similar device in a pub. He spent several years perfecting his design, and in 1963 he launched the first lava lamp, which he called the Astro Lamp. Lava lamps quickly became popular, and they remain a popular decorative item today.
