Can volcanic eruption turn brain into glass? Shocking discovery from Mt. Vesuvius site unveils rare archaeological phenomenon
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The vitrified brain — a scientific term for tissue transformed into glass — marks the first-ever recorded instance of such a phenomenon in archaeological history. The bizarre transformation, detailed in the journal Scientific Reports, sheds light on the devastating power of pyroclastic flows and the rare environmental conditions that led to this one-of-a-kind preservation.
The Day Mt. Vesuvius Devoured Herculaneum
On that fateful day, while Pompeii was buried under layers of ash and debris, the nearby coastal town of Herculaneum faced a different but equally deadly fate. As the first pyroclastic flow — a fast-moving cloud of scorching ash and gas — swept through the city at temperatures between 1,000 and 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, it left behind a trail of death and destruction.
Most residents had fled to the seashore in search of rescue, but one young man, around 20 years old, was discovered lying on a wooden bed inside the Collegium Augustalium, a public building dedicated to Emperor Augustus. What followed was both tragic and scientifically extraordinary.
How Did the Brain Turn to Glass?
Scientists believe the young man died instantly as the superheated ash cloud engulfed the room. What makes his case remarkable is the interplay of extreme heat and rapid cooling that followed. The initial temperature spike, estimated at over 950 degrees
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