In 1848, Phineas Gage‘s head was penetrated by a long metal rod near an explosion. In a second or two, the rod entered his left cheekbone and exited at the top of his forehead. Other than a blinded eye and a hole in his skull/brain, he was fine; however his brain/personality was totally altered. His skull and rod are at Harvard, and because of his tragedy scientists learned so much about the brain.