The volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD that buried the Italian city of Pompeii, with its inhabitants suffering a deadly fate, is a piece of history etched into the minds of many. A seemingly farfetched yet very real story, it highlights the power of the planet we live on and still captures the imagination of millions of people today.

It was a surprising discovery when scientists examining the remains of a man who died in bed in the ancient city of Herculaneum after Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD found dark fragments resembling obsidian inside his skull.

In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, a young man lay in bed as the world around him erupted into chaos. It was AD 79, and the volcano had unleashed its fury, burying the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of ash and molten rock.