Feature Materials Science

Making Stuff Last

Chemistry and materials science step up to preserve history, old and new

By Jessica Gorman

- More than 2 years ago

Around the world, archives, museums, and their storage facilities brim with society’s most prized objects. Some have been stashed on dusty back shelves for decades, while others bask under spotlights and curious gazes.

Scientists must first figure out how to best preserve old oil paintings, such as Giovanni Bellini’s early 16th century “The Feast of the Gods,” without experimenting on the precious art.