During excavations in Herculaneum, scientists discovered a human brain that, due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, had turned into glass, preserving proteins, fatty acids, and the microstructures of nervous tissue.
This phenomenon, known as vitrification, occurred under the intense heat of the volcanic cloud, with temperatures reaching at least 510°C. As a result, the brain’s organic material transformed into tiny glass-like particles.
Chemical analysis revealed that these glassy fragments still contain proteins and fatty acids characteristic of nervous tissue. Researchers note that vitrification uniquely preserved the biological material, opening new possibilities for studying ancient anatomy and brain structure.
