500°C Heat Turned Ancient Brain to Glass: A Unique Discovery

In a remarkable archaeological find, scientists have discovered that a man’s brain, from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, turned into glass due to extreme heat and rapid cooling. The man, found in Herculaneum, was exposed to temperatures over 500°C, which caused his brain to vitrify. This unique preservation allowed for the retention of tiny structures and cells within the brain. The glass transition state was identified at around 510°C, suggesting a brief but intense heating followed by quick cooling. This phenomenon was likely due to the city being enveloped by hot volcanic gases and ash shortly after the eruption, with subsequent cooling before denser pyroclastic flows arrived. The man’s position, lying face down on a bed, remains a mystery, as does why his brain was the only one to undergo this transformation. Over 4,400 ancient human brains have been found, but this is the first instance of vitrification. Further research on the proteins in these glass fragments continues at universities.

Source: www.technologyreview.com