How Vesuvius eruption transformed a brain into glass
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A recent study in the journal Scientific Reports reveals that during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, a young man's brain was transformed into glass through a rare process called vitrification. Analysis of glassy material found in his skull and spinal cord suggests his body tissue was exposed to temperatures exceeding 510°C (950°F), then cooled rapidly. Researchers concluded that a superheated ash cloud that dissipated quickly likely created the extreme conditions needed for vitrification. Remarkably, the glass fragment that formed achieved a perfect state of preservation of the brain and its microstructures.
Source
Giordano, G., Pensa, A., Vona, A. et al. Unique formation of organic glass from a human brain in the Vesuvius eruption of 79 CE. Sci Rep 15, 5955 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88894-5
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/science/vesuvius-brain-glass-study/index.html