Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery with the help of computer technology and advanced artificial intelligence, decoding the first full word from the Herculaneum scrolls, which survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. These nearly 2,000-year-old scrolls were previously considered illegible and would crumble if unrolled. The breakthrough came through the ""Vesuvius Challenge,"" a competition involving ""virtual wrapping"" of the scrolls using computer tomography and AI to unveil hidden words. The word ""πορφυρας"" or ""porphyras,"" the Greek term for purple, was deciphered. The scrolls were buried in volcanic mud during the eruption and later rediscovered in the 18th century. The ultimate goal is to read complete texts from the scrolls, offering deep insights into the lives and thoughts of ancient people. The Vesuvius Challenge continues, with the potential for significant new discoveries in the coming years.