History

• The lava lamp was invented in the 1960s by Edward Craven Walker. The original name of the lava lamp was Astro Lamp. The lamps lost a bit of popularity in the 1980s, but thanks to shops like Spencer's Gifts, they saw a resurgence in the 1990s. Today, lava lamps are considered "retro," and are usually associated with American culture of the 1960s and '70s.
  
  

Features

• The most common lava lamp is shaped like a vertical rocket ship, like a cone pointing upward with a slight pinch at the bottom of the lamp. The middle of the lamp is full of water and wax, which can be seen through a clear glass container. Below the glass is a bulb that lights and heats the wax and water.
  
  

Types

• Lava lamps vary in shape, size and color. They can be shaped like rockets or cylindrical tubes. The size can be as small as 10 inches high, and as large as 4 feet high. A wide variety of colors are available, but neon and fluorescent colors are most popular.
  Glitter lamps are a variation, in which the wax is replaced with glitter.
  
  

Function

• The lava lamp is a decorative, electronic device. It emits a slight glow, but is not intended to provide an area with sufficient amounts of light.
  
  

Misconceptions

• There is no lava in a lava lamp. It got the name due to the company that bought the American rights to the invention, Lava Lite.
  
  

Rumors/Affirmations

• There are rumors that a lava lamp can be dangerous, and the television show "Myth Busters" affirmed this in 2006. If extreme heat is put under the lava lamp, it could explode and fatally injure any person in its vicinity.