Glass brain in Herculaneum: Sensational discovery in volcano research!

Glass brain in Herculaneum: Sensational discovery in volcano research!

A fascinating find in Herculaneum sheds light on the fate of the city during the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Researchers from the Universities of Rome (III), Clausthal and Naples have discovered an unaltered corpse at a cult site, its brain transformed into a unique glass-like substance. This discovery represents the only known example of a “glass brain” on Earth and vividly demonstrates the destructive power that accompanied the eruption. The results of the extensive analysis were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports published, which gives new impetus to the understanding of the events in Herculaneum.

The investigation was led by Prof. Joachim Deubener from Clausthal University of Technology, whose aim was to prove that it was actually glass and to further research the formation of this unusual brain substance. The high-tech methods used have reached heating rates of up to 1,000 degrees per second to recreate the extreme conditions that existed during the eruption. The analysis found that the brain was heated to at least 510 degrees Celsius during a phenomenally hot period before rapidly cooling.

The scenario of the outbreak

The researchers reconstruct that a very thin but hot ash cloud reached Herculaneum. Although this cloud only left behind fine ash, it had catastrophic thermal effects, causing the victim's brain to become vitrified. The findings make it clear that such thin ash streams can pose a significant hazard despite their low structural impact. The fact that the victim's brain and spinal cord were vitrified at these extreme temperatures vividly illustrates the dangers posed by pyroclastic flows.

Analysis of the organic glass residue discovered in another victim's skull in 2020 supports the theory that the brain turned into glass when the victim was hit by the extremely hot ash cloud. This phenomenon is extremely rare in nature, and researchers have concluded that the conditions for it must be very special: high temperatures and rapid cooling are crucial. Only a few skeletons remain in Herculaneum as many residents tried to escape the disaster.

The city of Herculaneum

Herculaneum, once a modest fishing village on the Gulf of Naples, stands in stark contrast to Pompeii. While Pompeii was overwhelmed by pumice stones and chunks of lava, Herculaneum experienced a different kind of destruction. Pliny the Elder described in his notes that he reached the city around 6:00 p.m. and found it already buried. Residents who fled in the hope of safety were often caught off guard by the blistering gas combination, reaching temperatures of over 500°C.

Recent excavations have uncovered evidence of several hundred skeletons in a boat shed and other areas of the city. Examination of these corpses showed that the people died within seconds of sudden multiple organ failure, demonstrating the effects of pyroclastic flows. Despite the destruction, Herculaneum's state of preservation was unique, with furniture, clothing and even papyri preserved. The heat had charred many of the scrolls but still preserved them, allowing them to be decoded using modern techniques.

In summary, the scientific findings about the brain of the corpse in Herculaneum not only provide a deep insight into the catastrophic effects of the Vesuvius eruption, but also contribute to research on volcanism and disaster prevention. The detailed analyzes confirm the dangers posed by pyroclastic flows and shed light on how such events have shaped human history.