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Heritagebites: Easy-to-digest research summaries in cultural heritage research

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We highlight research in cultural heritage science through easily digestible 'bites' to inform and connect scientists, conservators, and society.

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Janille Maragh
Lora Angelova
Diego Iván Quintero-Balbás
Joen Hermans
Lianne Jordan
Marc Vermeulen
Marcie Wiggins
Stephanie Zaleski
Teresa Duncan
Xiao Ma
Yuliia Orlova

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While SERS is great, it does still require a sample, which is not ideal for studying cultural heritage, even if it is only a very teeny one. So, how might we avoid this? Researchers have been experimenting with improving the methods of applying SERS with a little help from gels equipped with nanoparticles. Just as they solve our stubborn hair problems, gels also provide unique solutions to our study and care of cultural heritage! (Nibble 4 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . And check back soon for 4 more nibbles! #happybiting . #gels #gel #sers #hair #badhairday #lasers #raman #spectroscopy #nanoparticles #artandscience #steam #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #monday

Incorporating silver (or Ag) nanoparticles (or gold, Au, like those in an earlier post) with the laser technique can enhance the signal from the molecules of interest. This is called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy or ‘SERS’. So why the colors? Depending on their size, Ag nanoparticles can exhibit various colors! (Nibble 3 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . #color #colors #colour #rainbow #silver #silverandgold #gold #nanoparticles #sers #lasers #raman #spectroscopy #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #wednesday

Lasers again come in handy! In a technique called Raman spectroscopy, lasers are used to tell us about the types of molecules we have in a very small sample of interest. Such lasers are useful at various wavelengths, whether appearing blue or green or red like those in earlier posts. While ‘normal’ Raman is quite good at identifying pigments, dyes or dye-derived pigments often require a more sophisticated technique. Like what? (Nibble 2 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . #dyes #lakes #pigments #lasers #raman #spectroscopy #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #thursday

In addition to pigments, dyes are also used in works of art. While both are used as colorants, they are typically differentiated by solubility (i.e. ability to dissolve), with dyes being soluble and pigments being insoluble. Interestingly, dyes can be attached to inert substances called ‘mordants’ to make them into pigments called ‘lakes’! So how do we analyze dyes? (Nibble 1 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . #dyes #lakes #pigments #mordant #color #colour #colorful #colourful #colorant #colourant #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #tuesday

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