It’s not springtime, but plastics are in bloom

Oily films and crystalline deposits are threatening plastic objects in cultural collections. This kind of degradation, known as “bloom,” is a result of plasticizer migration. In this article, researchers review various factors influencing bloom as well as analytical methods for investigating affected objects. Continue reading It’s not springtime, but plastics are in bloom

Green slime invasion deterred by laser guns! How finely-tuned light can be used to clean marble

Laser light can be used to blast grime off stone surfaces without affecting the stone substrate underneath. Although laser cleaning can be used in conjunction with other methods to remove different types of contaminants, here we highlight an article that uses only laser cleaning to remove biofilm from a marble statue. Continue reading Green slime invasion deterred by laser guns! How finely-tuned light can be used to clean marble

Protein analysis in heritage materials: from medical to conservation diagnosis with mini-biosensors

Immunoassay biosensors make identifying animal proteins from egg or glue in cultural heritage objects an simple task. This effort to miniaturize and simplify analysis could bring material characterization to any conservation studio. Continue reading Protein analysis in heritage materials: from medical to conservation diagnosis with mini-biosensors