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How a chunk of human brain survived intact for 2600 years:
Nearly 2600 years ago, a man was beheaded near modern-day York, U.K.—for what reasons, we still don't know—and his head was quickly buried in the clay-rich mud. When researchers found his skull in 2008, they were startled to find that his brain tissue, which normally rots rapidly after death, had survived for millennia—even maintaining features such as folds and grooves (above).
Now, researchers think they know why. Using several molecular techniques to examine the remaining tissue, the researchers figured out that two structural proteins—which act as the "skeletons" of neurons and astrocytes—were more tightly packed in the ancient brain. In a yearlong experiment, they found that these aggregated proteins were also more stable than those in modern-day brains. In fact, the ancient protein clumps may have helped preserve the structure of the soft tissue for ages, the researchers report today in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Clearly the reason his brain survived is he lived before the age of television.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 10 2020, @04:05AM (3 children)
Some would prefer to survive intact for 2600 years, long after their brain rot in oblivion.
I'm looking at you, khallow; but it's not gonna happen.
(Score: 3, Funny) by khallow on Friday January 10 2020, @05:58AM (2 children)
Of course, "survive intact" would include the absence of brain rot.
Apparently, I can live rent-free in your skull.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by aristarchus on Friday January 10 2020, @06:31AM (1 child)
Of course, some of us avoided being buried, and our more tightly packed and rational brains are still functional, and obviously refuting the khallow multiple times a week. Brain rot is not a physical process, it is an ideological one.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday January 10 2020, @01:25PM
Who would that be? I await your no doubt coherent and rational reply.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 10 2020, @09:07AM
I always wondered what happened to Spock's brain.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 10 2020, @12:55PM
He was probably one of the first "Highlanders". "There can be only one!"
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 10 2020, @12:59PM (1 child)
"Structural proteins... were more tightly packed in the ancient brain". This demonstrates conclusively that people have been getting dumber over time, culminating in millennials. A complete unfolding of the brain's structure proteins would explain why millennials build production systems with Javascript.
(Score: 2) by Codesmith on Friday January 10 2020, @06:20PM
OK, boomer.
Pro utilitate hominum.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday January 10 2020, @01:27PM (2 children)
Replace Trumps brain with this one: see if he gets smarter!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday January 10 2020, @03:49PM (1 child)
He might not be smarter but he'd probably scratch his crotch less.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday January 10 2020, @07:27PM
Highly doubtful, most people by modern standards would call all civilized cultures from 2600 years ago barbarians. Let alone, actual barbarians from 2600 years ago.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 10 2020, @02:36PM (1 child)
Having to live for 2600 years as a disembodied head.
How does one survive that long? and without the body attached?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday January 10 2020, @07:30PM
Simple answer, it didn't. The brain may not have decayed in a normal fashion, but that doesn't mean there was any activity in that hunk of flesh.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"