The discovery of mud and plants on the world’s new Pacific island bemuses scientists according to a report. The island is unofficially known as Hunga-Tonga which is located in the South Pacific near Tonga. It existed after a volcanic eruption that happened in December 2014. Dan Slayback, one of the scientists who visited the island, said that he is confused on where the mud is coming from and why the vegetation starts to grow. Slayback was also surprised that the plants grow on an isthmus on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai.

Researchers became aware of the island’s unique vegetation after they traveled to it using a boat in October 2018. According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), animals like birds in the nearby older islands that have plenty of plants fertilized the vegetation from their droppings. Additionally, the island contains pea-sized black gravel and a sticky light-colored gray mud, as described by Slayback. He also said that the island erodes quicker during rainfall.