Scientists are offering a $250,000 prize to anyone who can decipher the ancient manuscripts damaged during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The Herculaneum library, located in Pompeii, was severely impacted by the volcanic eruption, leaving hundreds of volumes destroyed. Even after the discovery of parts of these texts near the Bay of Naples in 1752, the contents remain a mystery.

The researchers have now announced a competition to solve this enigmatic puzzle. They revealed that some words or symbols from the texts have been captured by artificial intelligence (AI), and the person who can read and understand these 2,000-year-old writings will receive the lucrative reward.

In addition, the researchers are releasing the software they used, which assists in improving their AI's ability to read texts by 60 to 80%. They hope that scientists from around the globe will collaborate and help them achieve their goal. According to scientist Seals, the competition prize will be awarded to the person who can decipher the first four sections of the manuscript by the end of this year.