Posted on 01/23/2020 9:08:28 PM PST by 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. …
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
It sounds like it shoulda been on PF’s Umma Gumma.
“To turn to glass the brain would have to have much silicon in it. It does not. It is possible that silicon dioxide could have replaced the brain tissue over thousands of years if the burnt corpse was in a layer of ash that had moisture running through it. This is a common occurrence in fossilization. Volcanic ash is mostly silicon dioxide. It becomes soluble and can replace bones and tissue. It is a normal process.”
Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?
“Adam Schiff’s brain?”
Silica for brains is better than Schiff for brains.
Vilification is more like it.
Maybe these eggheads are thinking more along the lines of cremation diamonds rather than glass... Cuz the cremains would be carbon rather than silica unless silica from volcanic ash contaminated the cremains?
If it’s Schiff fer brains, we’re talking coprolites then.
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This happened to millions of American liberals in November of 2016.
cpdiii has been a geologist and a pharmacist, and has held a bunch of other jobs that we don't discuss on a family forum. he can hold his own, should he choose to reply.
Another thing that we all learn, is that it is possible to be self taught about things, if one so desires.
And to know what one is speaking about, from a real world perspective. Especially the older gents around this place.
“Hang around a while, and you will learn that a bunch of the folks on FR are well trained in the ways of science.”
BZZZT. The correct answer is “I am Arthur, King of the Britons”. Obviously you missed the Holy Grail reference.
BTW, I am well aware that many on FR have science backgrounds. Before I retired I worked as a Research Scientist for 30+ years.
An eruption lasting more than four hours....
The volcano did not help the rest of him either.
Hmm... maybe this is an alien as he has a crystal skull?
Gives me a chance to relate a totally grisly and hilariously macabre conversation about brains with my brother years ago.
There was the California earthquake that brought an overpass down on motorists, crushing their cars to a foot high.
My brother related the following interview by a female reporter of a driver who was just behind the crushed vehicles.
Reporter: Tell us what you saw.
Driver: Oh my God it was awful, their brains popped out of their heads and went dancing across the highway!
Reporter: (Gives the driver the dirtiest look as if to say “how could you?!”)
Driver: Well you asked me!
Me to my brother: Do you think those brains really “danced” across the highway?
My brother: Yes they did, they were saying (Gene Kelly imitation) “I’m singing, I’m dancing, I’m a brain”
Until a brain consists of mostly silicon, it will not become glass.
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