"A unique finding" is how scientists describe the latest discovery from the ruins of the catastrophic 79 CE Mount Vesuvius eruption, which left behind an extraordinary case of natural preservation. Nearly 2,000 years after a young man died in the disaster, researchers have confirmed that his brain was transformed into glass when it was exposed to an extreme heat wave of volcanic ash. The process, known as vitrification, could have occurred when the ash cloud reached an estimated 510°C (950°F) before cooling rapidly, turning the soft tissue into small, black glass-like fragments.
This discovery is the only known instance of human tissue undergoing natural vitrification, making it an extremely rare and significant find. The glassy remains, ranging from just a few millimeters to 1-2 cm (0.3-0.7 inches) in size, offer valuable insight into the effects of extreme heat on organic material. Scientists continue to study these fragments to better understand how sudden temperature shifts can lead to such a remarkable preservation process.
It can be argued that Mount Vesuvius is the most famous volcano in history for one reason: the destruction of Pompeii. In the year 79 CE, the volcano erupted and launched an avalanche of debris that buried the renowned Roman town in ash and pumice. Many historians have argued over what day the catastrophe actually took place, but tradition holds that it occurred on August 24. The victims of this natural disaster have been immortalized, and Pompeii’s ruins stand frozen in time.
Yet not everyone who lived in the town that day perished under the volcano’s wrath. In fact, scholars have scoured through historical records to determine whether there actually were survivors. Curious? Click through this gallery to see what they have found.
Vesuvius’ ash cloud turned man’s brain into glass, scientists say
Nearly 2,000 years after Vesuvius erupted, scientists uncover a rare case of natural vitrification in human tissue
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