Reading ancient sealed documents
(WorldNews Switzerland)

13.12.17- Scientists see inside a sealed testament from the State Archives of Venice using EPFL technology - without breaking the wax seal­­ - and reveal the last wishes of a Venetian lady from the year 1351. EPFL physicists reveal the last wishes of a Venetian woman from the year 1351 contained in a wax-sealed document, without breaking the seal. Using the fact that ancient inks in Europe are iron-based and X-rays cannot penetrate this heavy metal, X-ray tomography can scan through the entire volume of a book, without ever having to open it, to reveal the words written on the paper. The technology is being developed with the myriad of fragile documents at the State Archives of Venice...