admin A team of researchers has uncovered how a young Roman man’s brain turned into glass after Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. The rare discovery, made in the ruins of Herculaneum, has provided fresh insights into how extreme heat impacts biological tissues.
The eruption, which buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic ash, created a phenomenon never before seen in human remains. Shiny glass-like fragments were found inside the skull of a victim who was lying in bed when the disaster struck. Scientists later confirmed that these remnants were brain tissue that had undergone vitrification, a process where intense heat followed by rapid cooling turns material into glass.
Scientists Uncover the Temperature That Transformed the Brain
Using differential scanning calorimetry, researchers determined that the brain had been exposed to temperatures of at least 510°C (950°F). This is significantly higher than the maximum temperature of pyroclastic flows, which typically reach 465°C. The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests that the young man was hit by an extremely hot ash cloud before being buried under volcanic debris. The quick dissipation of the heat allowed the brain to cool rapidly, triggering the glass formation process.
“This is the first time biological soft tissue has turned into glass naturally,” said Guido Giordano, a geologist and volcanologist at Roma Tre University. “The discovery raises important questions about the impact of extreme heat on human remains.”
Glassy Brain Shows Preserved Nerve Cells
Further microscopic analysis of the glassy material revealed nerve cell structures within the preserved brain tissue. This finding is groundbreaking, as vitrification of human tissue had never been documented outside of artificial or rare natural conditions, such as lightning striking sand to form fulgurites.
Skull Helped Preserve Brain in Glassy State
One of the biggest mysteries was why the brain did not disintegrate completely in such extreme temperatures. Scientists suggest that the victim’s skull played a crucial role by shielding the brain from direct exposure to the heat. This protection allowed the conditions needed for vitrification to occur instead of complete combustion.
The discovery is shedding new light on how volcanic eruptions affect human remains and could provide forensic scientists with a better understanding of the effects of extreme heat on biological tissues.
Magazine 
