When the eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga crescendoed into a fiery blast last year, it sent shock waves around the globe. Its eruption was stronger than an atomic bomb and set new records that have since dwarfed the power of most volcanic eruptions in recorded history.

The volcano, called Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, was the first ever observed to shoot ash 35 miles above ground into Earth’s mesosphere. It also sent out the fastest atmospheric pressure waves ever recorded and caused several rare tsunamis.

Even though it’s been over a year since the eruption, scientists are still making discoveries about the effects of the blast. One team of experts from Japan announced that the eruption was powerful enough to create a phenomenon in the atmosphere that could interrupt satellite and GPS communications. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Not every car needs to be exciting. That was the crux of the argument I made when I first reviewed the Audi E-Tron in 2019. It was nice to drive, comfortable and calm, and smooth. It was quick off the line, as most EVs are, but otherwise had no hope of elevating your heart rate. In a word, it was boring, but that didn't stop it from being a great car.

Fast-forward four years and Audi's giving the humble E-Tron a bit of a re-release — and a new name, too. Though fundamentally the same car as the outgoing E-Tron, the new Q8 E-Tron has more range, more refinement, and yes more fun, plus the requisite new nose required for any mid-cycle refresh. The result is surprisingly effective.