On the 6th of February 2025, BBC headline: “First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2,000 years”. A report by science editor Rebecca Morelle and Senior Science Journalist Alison Francis.

A volcanic eruption 2000 years ago destroyed the town of Herculaneum. In that town, there was a house, in that house, there was a library, in that library, there was a scroll, and in that scroll... nobody knew what was in that scroll because it was burnt to a charcoal crisp, but today Rebecca and Alison excitedly report, we finally know. Or will know. Because the work is ongoing but everyone is highly optimistic that hi-tech will reveal the secrets of the scroll.

Hi, my name is Terence and I’m your host for the Daily Monsoon, a podcast where I connect current events to matters of faith. Today, we join a select group of people excited to finally be able to read a 2,000 year old scroll.