The Archimedes Palimpsest is a 10th century papyrus copy
of mathematical works by Archimedes, a 4th century mathematician. The
manuscript was scraped and overwritten by a Christian monk in the 12th
century, who used the papyrus to write a Catholic prayer book. Since
1998, when a private collector bought the manuscript for US$2 million,
scientists have been trying to uncover the hidden text of Archimedes'
works. One of these works, the Method of Mechanical Theorems is
the only extant copy left.
After hearing of the text, a scientist at Stanford University realized
that the particle accelerator at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
would be helpful in uncovering the hardest-to-see pieces of Archimedes'
work. The accelerator speeds up electrons, which give off X-rays. These
X-rays are being used to make the iron in the lower layer of ink
to glow, thus making it possible to see the text through the upper
layer.
Other techniques have been used to unearth most of the Palimpsest's
text, including ultraviolet and infrared light and digital
imaging equipment.
For more info on the Archimedes Palimpsest, see The
Walters Art Museum web site. For more info on the particle
accelerator's use in uncovering the text, see ABC
news.
SOURCE: http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2005May/gee20050523030577.htm |
