Vesuvius Eruption Turned Victim's Brain to Glass

Researchers have discovered a unique case where a man's brain turned into glass during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, shedding light on the catastrophic effects of the disaster. The young man's remains were found in Herculaneum, a city destroyed by the eruption, where a superheated ash cloud caused his brain to vitrify by rapidly heating and cooling it. This phenomenon, termed vitrification, is extraordinarily rare for organic material and required very specific conditions, such as the immense heat from the ash cloud followed by a swift cooling process. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, revealed that the glassy material contained remnants of brain cells, proving it was indeed vitrified brain tissue. This discovery not only provides insight into the destructive power of volcanic eruptions but also highlights the extreme conditions under which organic preservation through vitrification can occur.