A Volcano Toasted This Scroll 2,000 Years Ago. Here’s How Scientists Read It Without Ever Opening It

Researchers used advanced imaging and computational techniques to virtually unroll and read a scroll carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, without physically opening the fragile artifact. This breakthrough demonstrates how technology can recover historical knowledge previously deemed inaccessible, offering a model for preserving and studying other fragile ancient texts and artifacts worldwide.

• Scientists read a 2,000-year-old volcano-carbonized scroll without unrolling or damaging it.
• The achievement relied on advanced imaging combined with computational analysis and cross-disciplinary teamwork.
• The method could pave the way for recovering other previously unreadable historical texts and artifacts.