by some years. "Michael's", a mass retailer of craft supplies here in the U.S. is where I first saw the current version of "lava" beads - which do indeed look lava-like. First they appeared in black, with a suggested gimmick of putting drops of essential oils onto the surface of the beads, so one could have scented beads. Most recent visit to "Michael's" I saw beads of the same material dyed in weird colors. I like the basic black ones, though.