The Vesuvius Eruption: A Roman’s Brain Turned to Glass
Nearly two millennia ago, as Mount Vesuvius unleashed its fury, a young man lay on his bed. In a moment etched in volcanic fire, a searing cloud of ash engulfed him, transforming his brain into fragments of glass. This extraordinary account, proposed by Italian scientists in their study published in Scientific Reports, follows the enigmatic discovery of the young Roman’s skull. The scientists believe they have uncovered "vitrified" human tissue, an unparalleled phenomenon.
The year was 79 AD. The cataclysmic eruption of Vesuvius buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick blanket of rock, gas, and scalding ash, a phenomenon known as a pyroclastic surge. The fate of the inhabitants remained a mystery until excavations began in the 1700s. These excavations unearthed thousands of bodies. Among them, the remains of a young man, approximately 20 years old, were discovered in the 1960s. He lay calcined on a wooden bed within a building in Herculaneum dedicated to the worship of Emperor Augustus.
In 2018, Italian anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone noticed something peculiar. "I saw something shiny inside the shattered skull," he told AFP, co-author of the study published in Scientific Reports. The man’s brain remnants had been transformed into black, glassy fragments. These pieces reached up to a centimeter in width, as noted by volcanologist Guido Giordano, the study’s lead author, in his comments to AFP. Examination under an electron microscope revealed an "astonishing, truly unexpected" find. The intricate networks of neurons, axons, and spinal cord were clearly visible within the glass, according to the study.
This finding presents a profound mystery. Glass rarely forms naturally. Its creation requires intense heat followed by rapid cooling to prevent crystallization, a phenomenon often associated with meteorite impacts, lightning strikes, or lava flows. However, such a process seems improbable within human tissue, which is primarily composed of water. The young Roman’s brain is "the only known example on Earth" of animal tissue transformed into glass, the study asserts. It was determined that the brain had been exposed to a sudden temperature exceeding 510° Celsius. This temperature is significantly higher than the 465° Celsius of the pyroclastic surge that engulfed the city.
The brain must have cooled rapidly after the initial temperature shock, preceding the arrival of the pyroclastic surge, also known as a pyroclastic cloud. The "only possible scenario" suggests that Vesuvius expelled an initial cloud of burning ash, which quickly dissipated. This theory is supported by the presence of a thin layer of ash covering the city before it was buried by the pyroclastic surge. This would mean that the cloud of ash, rather than the surge, may have been responsible for the decimation of Herculaneum’s inhabitants.
Guido Giordano hopes this research will stimulate further investigation into the dangers posed by these burning ash clouds, which he believes are "understudied" due to their ephemeral nature and the limited traces they leave behind. He suggests that such a cloud was responsible for the deaths of French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were widely believed to have perished in a pyroclastic surge in 1991. Similarly, he links these clouds to the 215 fatalities of the Fuego volcano eruption in Guatemala in 2018. "There is a window of survival" in the face of such phenomena, according to the volcanologist, who suggests the construction of buildings near volcanoes capable of withstanding such temperatures.
But why was the young Roman of Herculaneum seemingly the only one to meet such a fate? Unlike Pompeii, the inhabitants of Herculaneum had slightly more time to flee towards the nearby Mediterranean Sea. Their bodies were predominantly found in that direction. The young Roman, presumed to be guarding the building where he was found, remained on his bed and was directly struck by the cloud of ash. "He may have been drunk," Guido Giordano jokingly speculated.
This discovery offers a chilling glimpse into the immediate and devastating effects of volcanic eruptions. The vitrification of the young man’s brain not only showcases the extreme conditions generated during the event but also underscores the potential for nuanced analysis of these historical events, challenging previously held assumptions about the specific mechanisms of death. The research highlights the significance of burning ash clouds as a distinct and underappreciated hazard associated with volcanic activity, potentially leading to improved safety protocols and mitigation strategies in areas vulnerable to eruptions.
The study emphasizes the need for further research on volcanic ash clouds, which are often overlooked in favor of the more dramatic pyroclastic surges. By understanding the dynamics and effects of these ash clouds, scientists can better assess the risks they pose and develop strategies to protect communities living near active volcanoes. The case of the young Roman whose brain was transformed into glass is a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of studying past events to prepare for future challenges. His fate serves as a cautionary tale and a call for continued vigilance and research in the face of these formidable natural forces. The unique preservation of his brain tissue offers a rare opportunity to explore the extreme conditions and specific impacts of volcanic eruptions, providing invaluable insights for volcanologists and disaster preparedness experts worldwide.
