The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD has long captivated scientists and historians. Excavations in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed numerous artifacts, but one find stands out: a 20-year-old man’s brain transformed into glass.
This unusual preservation was first noted in 2020 when researchers discovered a glassy substance in the skull of a Herculaneum victim. Temperatures during the eruption are estimated to have exceeded 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically would cause brain matter to liquefy rather than solidify.
A recent study from Roma Tre University has provided new insights into this phenomenon. Researchers found compelling evidence that the glass-like remains are indeed human brain tissue, preserved through a process never documented before for any biological material.
Hypotheses suggest that the man was subjected to a surge of superheated ash while lying in bed, heating his brain to the necessary temperature for glass formation. Although most brain fragments were damaged, some survived intact due to the unique positioning of his skull and spine at the time of his death.
As the environment cooled rapidly, one of the remaining brain pieces solidified into a glass mass. This discovery not only sheds light on the catastrophic events of Vesuvius but also holds implications for fields such as forensic biology, volcanology, and Roman history.
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