Ancient Roman's Brain Turned to Glass by Vesuvius Eruption, Scientists Reveal

New research identifies a superheated ash cloud as the cause of a unique vitrified brain found in Herculaneum after the AD 79 eruption.

Italian scientists have determined that an ancient Roman's brain was transformed into glass by extreme heat and rapid cooling during the Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD 79.
The vitrified brain fragments, discovered in 2018 in Herculaneum, are the only known instance of human or animal tissue naturally turning to glass.
Researchers concluded that a superheated ash cloud exceeding 510°C struck the city before the pyroclastic flow, rapidly cooling to create the glass-like preservation.
Electron microscopy revealed preserved neural structures, offering unprecedented insights into the conditions of the eruption and the unique process of vitrification.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about how victims in Herculaneum died and highlight the deadly potential of poorly understood volcanic ash clouds.