Glass brain shard from man who died in Mount Vesuvius eruption.Credit: Giordano, et al / Nature
Posted on 03/01/2025 10:46:14 PM PST by SunkenCiv
...the only known case of natural organic glass preservation in history. The brain vitrified at temperatures above 510°C followed by extremely rapid cooling, revealing a new timeline of volcanic hazards during the disaster. This unique preservation was only possible because of a perfect sequence: superheated ash cloud exposure, rapid cooling as the cloud dissipated, then burial by cooler volcanic flows...
The victim, believed to be approximately 20 years old, was discovered in the Collegium Augustalium, a public building dedicated to the worship of Emperor Augustus. He is believed to have been the guardian of this important structure, which was located on Herculaneum's main street. When archaeologists examined his remains, they discovered the unique dark-colored organic glass with the appearance of obsidian.
Through detailed analysis including microscopy, heat testing, and light-based identification techniques, researchers determined this wasn't just any preserved organic material. It was actually the victim's brain transformed into glass at temperatures exceeding 510°C. More astonishing still, previous research in 2020 confirmed the presence of preserved neurons in the vitrified material, adding to the significance of this latest discovery.
(Excerpt) Read more at studyfinds.org ...
Glass brain shard from man who died in Mount Vesuvius eruption.Credit: Giordano, et al / Nature
Glass?
Seems like overdone meat would be a more accurate term.
Glass is from melted minerals, not charred proein?
Are they sure that’s not Byedones brain?
"He's hooked, he's hooked, his brain is cooked..."Uncle Vic - Space Invaders | 3:33
OffTheCharts365 | 3.23K subscribers | 38,710 views | May 5, 2012
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, alpha:
It’s never been found before. It’ll be interesting to see if more such examples are found in the re-examination of human remains from Herculaneum, which was on the slope of Vesuvius and was precipitously buried by pyroclastic flow. Unlike at Pompeii, upper storeys of buildings have survived, and wood was carbonized in Herculaneum, for example, leaving doors which still swing on their hinges.
I suspected right away this was in Herculaneum. Unlike Pompeii, H has many preserved skeletons, including those still wearing jewels and bearing swords. The Pompeii bodies were burnt to dust and left only an empty space in the ash.
Herculaneum is just a train stop next to Pompeii, and is the far more dramatic site.
Silicon dioxide is the main chemical in glass....
The “journalist” should have used the term “glass like”..another example of how imprecise modern day journalists are.
Now it is possible that the brain was inundated with silica containing molten rock...and it turned the brain to “glass”
That’s sorta what some think about Lots’ wife....turning to “salt”
For a long while it was believed to have none, the explanation being that the associated quakes and proximity to the eruption meant that everyone fled asap. Apparently that was mostly the case, but a mass of remains were found in a building by the waterfront, where the victims were apparently awaiting evacuation.
https://historyandarchaeologyonline.com/human-remains-in-herculaneum/
https://bomv.commons.gc.cuny.edu/skeletal-remains/
https://www.livescience.com/skeleton-vesuvius-victim-discovered
(it took three days for Pompeii to be buried, two hours for Herculaneum)
So we might be able to save him!?
This is about the most radical archaeological find I’ve never contemplated. There’ve got to be jokes here (after all, it is amorphous), but I’m otherwise distracted. Stoned? Lava lump enlightenment? Shattered.
My brain’s been splattered, splattered all over Manhattan...
Really tired. I do wonder what it might betray of its internal structure.
"Normal disposal is by inhumement, entombment, inurnment or immurement, but many people just lately prefer insarcophagusment."-"The Loved One," by Evelyn Waugh
Now add to that: vitrification.
Regards,
So we might be able to save him!?
"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology."
Regards,
We can rebuild him. He’ll be better, stronger, faster, we can call him the six billion dollar Pisan! 🤪
Imagine you are a 20 year old guard in Ancient Rome.
Now imagine you are burnt to a crisp from a history-making volcanic eruption.
Now imagine enough of your brain is preserved in glass that it can be recreated in the year 2025.
Now imagine you died back 79 AD and woke back up in 2025.
You’d likely immediately apply for welfare benefits, get fat on doritos, and buy a computer. I mean, I sure would.
Yeah and if he ever sees Lizo dance, he’ll hike to Mount St Helene’s and jump in.
Any modern urban American would disgust him.
:^)
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