Mystery mud on new volcanic island baffles Nasa scientists

Island sprang up near Tonga three years ago, giving researchers a glimpse of how flora and fauna colonise it

Nasa scientists have landed for the first time on one of the world's newest islands, and discovered the three-year-old land mass is now covered in a sticky, mysterious mud, as well as vegetation and bird life.

The volcanic island sprang up in the ocean surrounding Tonga three years ago, one of only three new islands to emerge in the last 150 years that have survived more than a few months.