Humans are some pretty curious creatures - especially when it comes to things to eat and drink. For example, people probably thought that the first person to drink milk from cows was a crazy person.
It's that drive to try new and tasty treats that likely led one man to ask the U.S. Geological Survey's scientists if it was possible to roast marshmallows over volcanic vents and eat them.
The short answer is: No. The long answer is: Noooooooooooooooooo.
Erm...we're going to have to say no, that's not safe. (Please don't try!) If the vent is emitting a lot of SO2 or H2S, they would taste BAD. And if you add sulfuric acid (in vog, for example) to sugar, you get a pretty spectacular reaction.
Turns out, when lava is spurting out of the ground like that, a lot of other nasty compounds are being belched out along with it.
For one, even if you were able to get close enough to the lava without turning yourself into BBQ, the roasted marshmallow would likely taste terrible thanks to gases like sulfur dioxide (think rotten eggs), or hydrogen sulfide being released.
Sulfuric acid from vog (volcanic smog) could also interact with the carbon molecules in the sugar and create a "pretty spectacular reaction."
The USGS has sent out far more dire warnings about the Kilauea volcano which began erupting on May 3rd. The agency issued a warning for the volcano - the highest alert possible which says a "hazardous eruption is imminent, underway or suspected." The flowing lava has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents on Hawaii's Big Island.
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