Uncovering Art History Through Spectroscopy
Researchers at Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands) and the University of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium) used synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to reveal a portrait of a woman by Vincent van Gogh beneath the paint of his 1887 "Patch of Grass."
Researchers at Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands) and the University of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium) used synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to reveal a portrait of a woman by Vincent van Gogh beneath the paint of his 1887 "Patch of Grass." Van Gogh was known to paint over his work, perhaps as often as one third of the time. Behind the painting, done mostly in greens and blues, is a portrait of a woman, rendered in browns and reds. Synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy measures chemicals in the pigments, and is said to be an improvement on X-ray radiography, which has been used to reveal concealed layers of other famous paintings. In this case, mercury and antimony were useful in revealing the woman?s face. Researchers said that the new technique is expected to pave the way for research into many other concealed paintings.
Your Guide to the European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry
February 27th 2025The 20th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry (EWCPS 2025) is scheduled to take place from March 2 to 7, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. Here, we provide a conference insider regarding what spectroscopists should consider checking out, as well as the topics that will be discussed at the conference.
IoT-based Spectral Sensing Brings Real-Time Grape Ripeness Monitoring to Vineyards
February 26th 2025A team of researchers from the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal, has developed an autonomous Internet of Things (IoT) spectral sensing system designed to monitor grape ripening in real-time. The study, led by Hugo M. Oliveira, Alessio Tugnolo, Natacha Fontes, Carlos Marques, and Álvaro Geraldes, was published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture and introduces a novel approach to non-destructive, in-situ optical monitoring of grape maturity.
Pittcon 2025: Highlighting Talks on Atomic Spectroscopy
February 26th 2025At Pittcon this year, there will be numerous sessions dedicated to spotlighting the latest research that uses atomic spectroscopy or elemental analysis techniques. We highlight some of these talks below that might pique the interest of spectroscopists and researchers attending the conference this year.
