Volcanic Explosion Turns Brain into Glass
2020-01-25
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1Italian scientists reported this week that a volcanic explosion not only killed one person, but turned the victim's brain material into glass.
2This is the first time that scientists have found that a volcanic eruption produced such an effect.
3Officials at the Herculaneum archaeology dig reported the finding in The New England Journal of Medicine.
4Mount Vesuvius erupted almost 2,000 years ago, in the year 79.
5The eruption killed people in the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
6The remains of a man lying on a wooden bed were discovered in Herculaneum in the 1960s.
7He is believed to have been the custodian, or caretaker, of a place of worship - the Collegium Augustalium at Herculaneum.
8A report describing the discovery noted that archaeologists rarely find brain tissue in ancient human remains.
9When they do, the tissue is usually smooth.
10A team led by Pier Paolo Petrone examined the man's remains.
11Petrone is with the Federico II University in Naples.
12He and his team discovered that the victim's brain matter had been vitrified.
13Vitrification is a process by which tissue is burned at a high heat and turned into glass.
14A study of burned wood found near the remains suggested that the heat reached temperatures as high as 520 degrees Celsius.
15A sudden drop in temperatures followed the burst of extreme heat, which vitrified the brain material, the report said.
16The resulting mass found in the victim's chest bones is also unique among other archaeological sites.
17The report said the finding could be compared with victims of more recent historic events like the firebombing of the German cities Dresden and Hamburg in World War II.
18I'm John Russell.
1Italian scientists reported this week that a volcanic explosion not only killed one person, but turned the victim's brain material into glass. 2This is the first time that scientists have found that a volcanic eruption produced such an effect. 3Officials at the Herculaneum archaeology dig reported the finding in The New England Journal of Medicine. 4Mount Vesuvius erupted almost 2,000 years ago, in the year 79. The eruption killed people in the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. 5The remains of a man lying on a wooden bed were discovered in Herculaneum in the 1960s. He is believed to have been the custodian, or caretaker, of a place of worship - the Collegium Augustalium at Herculaneum. 6A report describing the discovery noted that archaeologists rarely find brain tissue in ancient human remains. When they do, the tissue is usually smooth. 7A team led by Pier Paolo Petrone examined the man's remains. Petrone is with the Federico II University in Naples. He and his team discovered that the victim's brain matter had been vitrified. Vitrification is a process by which tissue is burned at a high heat and turned into glass. 8A study of burned wood found near the remains suggested that the heat reached temperatures as high as 520 degrees Celsius. A sudden drop in temperatures followed the burst of extreme heat, which vitrified the brain material, the report said. 9The resulting mass found in the victim's chest bones is also unique among other archaeological sites. 10The report said the finding could be compared with victims of more recent historic events like the firebombing of the German cities Dresden and Hamburg in World War II. 11I'm John Russell. 12The Associated Press reported on this story. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 13_____________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15bed - n. something on which to lie or sleep on 16worship - n. the act of honoring God or a being with supernatural powers 17unique - adj. different from everyone and everything else 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.