Mount Vesuvius eruption melted victim's brain to glass

Deutsche Welle ^ | 01.23.2020 | lc/rc (AFP, AP)

[Olog-hai]

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius turned an ancient victim’s brain into glass, according to Italian anthropologists.

The finding, dubbed as “sensational” and published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, marks the first time that scientists have verified such a phenomenon. […]

The remains of a man found lying on a wooden bed were discovered in Herculaneum in the 1960s. He is believed to have been the custodian of the College of Augustales, a place of worship that was at the center of the cult of Roman Emperor Augustus.

The glassy substance found inside of the victim’s skull has long captivated researchers who studied the remains of victims trapped by lava and toxic gases following the eruption.

The team of researchers confirmed that the victim’s brain had been vitrified, a process by which tissue is burned at such a high temperature that it turns into glass. Researchers believe that the temperature rose to 520°C (968°F), followed by a rapid drop in temperature which helped vitrify the remains. …

[Simon Foxx]

Pompeii was buried by falling ash;

Herculaeum, by the coast, by contrast was engulphed by a pyroclastic flow travelling down the side of the vulcano at hundreds of miles an hour having a temperature of over 900 degrees F. Death was instantaneous for this luckless victim.

[Salamander]

Blondie had a heart of glass.

;)

[jackibutterfly]

"Pompeii was so hedinous it would make Amsterdam red light district look like Sesame Street."

I think you meant to say, "hedonistic".

[wastedyears]

Someone say glass and vitrify?

[wastedyears]

Lava traveled that fast? Isn’t that faster than water? How could something with a thicker consistency travel faster?

Anyway, some educational reading: Demotion Hammer - Pyroclastic Annihilation

Molten debris
Volcanic ash
Seas of boiling mud
Subrelluric forces exploding violently
Pyroclastic matter intense velocity

Blistering jets of steam
Suffocating noxious gas
Incandescent surge, rhyolite monstrosity
Expanding mass of lava and pumice
Columns of smoke
Solid sheet of flames
Paroxysmal rupture, volcanic edifice
Scintilating fissure, erupting orifice

Avalanche
Vapor cloud
Interlacing fiery trails
Wall of toxic fumes rapidly asphyxiates
Intrusive tuft prevails

Incendiary hyle, vulgar mass
Ebullition escalates
Inflammatory pit’s effluence
Lithosphere fulminates

Lateral blast, incineration
Candent, viscous flow
Fire belching mountain
Spewing hot ash
Menacing convection

Catastrophic purge, tephra plague
Flaming fragments inundate
Combustive turbid brume, smothering
Fumaroles permeate

Torn crustal plates, assimilation
Magma reservoir
Scoria ejected
Violent shockwaves
Pyrocataclysm

Curtain of fire
Hot embers fly
Parasitic flow
Megaton explosion, destructive aperture
Orbs of acid lava, torrid expenditure

Volatile magma bombs
Encrustment of profuse terrain
Inhumating blast, vehement catastrophe
Desolate void remains

[gleeaikin]

Isn’t the temperature for melting glass higher than than the figures given in the article? Decided to not be lazy and went to Google. Found this, “Most glass melts at 1400 to 1600 degrees Farenheit. Nevertheless, there are specialized glasses that will melt at as low as 900 degrees. A kiln is necessary to raise the temperature of glass to 1400C to 1600C degrees, while a blow torch can raise the temperature of glass to approximately 900 degrees.” This article actually said farenheit, but all other articles were saying Centigrade so I changed used them both, but suspect Centigrade is correct and much hotter than the posted article says.

[gleeaikin]

A pyroclastic flow is not the same as lava. It travels very fast, is formed of incandescent particles, and dry roasts instantaneously.

[rfp1234]

Is that an actual poem or song? Great work.

[Paul R.]

Agreed. The only way a brain could “melt” into glass would be if it belonged to Mr. Data (etc.).

[wastedyears]

It's a song: Demolition Hammer - Pryoclastic Annihilation

[fieldmarshaldj]

He doesn’t have nothing to vitrify.

[fieldmarshaldj]

That would be his gooch.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’ll take “What are the names of today’s rock bands ?” for $100, Alex.

[SunkenCiv]

Transformation of brain tissue to a form of glass may occur at lower temps. :^)

[lurk]

Dude was a hot head.

[JohnnyP]

I love the version with the red scarf...

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.google.com/search?q=vitrification

[Salamander]

I could only find a gray scarf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=130&v=WGU_4-5RaxU&feature=emb_logo

Brings back such memories.

Used to brave Georgetown just to go to Commander Salamander, the premier punk rock shop.

Blondie stuff was everywhere.

[JohnnyP]

Watching it again. and again. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbnbMMCfyoc

[Salamander]

Wow...never saw that one!