Heat from the eruption in A.D. 79 was so intense that it vitrified the brain tissue of one unfortunate Herculaneum resident, a new study confirms. Heat from the eruption in A.D. 79 was so intense that it vitrified the brain tissue of one unfortunate Herculaneum resident, a new study confirms. Volcanoes, Brain, Glass, Forensic Science, Archaeology and Anthropology, Nature (Journal), Herculaneum (Italy), Mount Vesuvius (Italy), your-feed-science NYT > Science