Researchers have used artificial intelligence to read text from papyrus scrolls buried and charred by Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago—without ever unrolling the delicate documents. The AI successfully decoded hidden writings on philosophy, ethics, art and human behaviour that have been locked away since 79 AD.

This breakthrough represents a stunning convergence of archaeology and cutting-edge technology. By analysing the subtle surface variations on burnt scrolls from Pompeii and Herculaneum, machine learning algorithms pieced together previously illegible text, offering historians a rare window into ancient thought and daily life. Read the full story →

Today's takeaway: AI isn't just about the future—it's helping us recover lost pieces of the past and answer questions that have puzzled scholars for centuries.