{
  "id": 10676140,
  "title": "Towering 'sponge' dome in Brazil is the secret source of nearby hot springs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/towering-sponge-dome-in-brazil-is-the-secret-source-of-nearby-hot",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-29T10:56:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Science",
    "slug": "live-science",
    "url": "https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/towering-sponge-dome-in-brazil-is-the-secret-source-of-nearby-hot-springs-earth-from-space"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the Brazilian town of Caldas Novas, a massive, sponge-like dome known as the Caldas Novas dome or Serra de Caldas stands tall, rising up to 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. This 12-mile-long and 7-mile-wide structure, which is approximately 600 million years old, serves a crucial role in supplying the region's famous hot springs with warm water. The dome's dark, monolithic appearance and its role as a giant sponge filled by the Cerrado savanna biome contribute to its significance in the local ecosystem.",
  "summary": "A 2025 satellite photo shows the Caldas Novas dome, a 12-mile-long monolith that towers above the Brazilian state of Goiás. The structure acts as a giant sponge, soaking up water that helps fuel nearby hot springs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}