Abstract
The eruption of Mount St. Helens 35 years ago provided an amazing opportunity for scientists to study the effects of catastrophe. The incredible lessons are as valuable as ever! May 18, 2015, marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most violent natural disasters of our modern time, the colossal 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state. Its explosive power shocked the world and made headline news. Fifty-seven people died, over $1 billion worth of property was destroyed, and over 230 square miles (600 km^2) of forests were immediately flattened. Recent rumblings are again making news, raising fears that the volcano may be reawakening. While the losses were tragic, the value to science has been inestimable. Geologists vastly improved their ability to predict eruptions, safely evacuating tens of thousands of Filipino people before Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Scientists began learning many other valuable lessons, some of which have challenged the foundations of evolutionary thinking. The eruption of Mount St. Helens is often regarded as the most significant geologic event of the twentieth century.