Volcanic Explosion Turns Brain into Glass

 

Italian scientists reported this week that a volcanic¹ explosion not only killed one person, but turned the victim's brain material into glass.

This is the first time that scientists have found that a volcanic eruption² produced such an effect.

Officials at the Herculaneum archaeology³ dig reported the finding in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Mount Vesuvius erupted almost 2,000 years ago, in the year 79. The eruption killed people in the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The remains⁴ of a man lying on a wooden bed were discovered in Herculaneum in the 1960s. He is believed to have been the custodian⁵, or caretaker, of a place of worship - the Collegium Augustalium at Herculaneum.

A report describing the discovery noted⁶ that archaeologists rarely find brain tissue in ancient human remains. When they do, the tissue is usually smooth.

A team led by Pier⁷ 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.

A study of burned wood found near the remains suggested that the heat reached temperatures as high as 520 degrees Celsius⁸. A sudden drop in temperatures followed the burst of extreme heat, which vitrified the brain material, the report said.

The resulting mass found in the victim's chest bones is also unique among other archaeological sites.

The 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.

Words in This Story

bed – n. something on which to lie or sleep on

worship – n. the act of honoring God or a being with supernatural powers

unique – adj. different from everyone and everything else

1 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

3 archaeology   

n.考古学

参考例句：

• She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
• He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 custodian   

n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守

参考例句：

• Benitez believes his custodian is among the top five in world football.贝尼特斯坚信他的门将是当今足坛最出色的五人之一。
• When his father died his uncle became his legal custodian.他父亲死后，他叔叔成了他的法定监护人。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

8 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。