Vesuvius Eruption Preserved Victim's Brain as Glass in Unprecedented Discovery

Scientists confirm that extreme heat and rapid cooling during the 79 CE eruption vitrified a man's brain, a process never before documented in human tissue.

The remains of a young man found in Herculaneum reveal his brain was vitrified into glass due to the intense heat and rapid cooling caused by Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 CE.
Researchers determined temperatures exceeded 510°C (950°F) during the initial ash cloud, followed by rapid cooling, creating the conditions for brain tissue vitrification.
The vitrified brain fragments, resembling obsidian, preserved microscopic neural structures, including neurons and axons, offering a unique glimpse into ancient human tissue preservation.
The victim was found lying on a wooden bed in the Collegium Augustalium, a public building in Herculaneum, where his thick skull and specific location may have contributed to the preservation of his brain.
This discovery provides new insights into the catastrophic effects of pyroclastic flows and raises considerations for modern safety measures in volcanic regions.