X-rays reveal Archimedes secrets (BBC) {ancient texts recovered !! }

[eppur_se_muova]

By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

A series of hidden texts written by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes are being revealed by US scientists.

Until now, the pages have remained obscured by paintings and texts laid down on top of the original writings.

Using a non-destructive technique known as X-ray fluorescence, the researchers are able to peer through these later additions to read the underlying text.

The goatskin parchment records key details of Archimedes' work, considered the foundation of modern mathematics.

The writings include the only Greek version of On Floating Bodies known to exist, and the only surviving ancient copies of The Method of Mechanical Theorems and the Stomachion.


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5235894.stm

WOW! I envy the people doing this -- you can tell from the quotes how excited they are to be reading these texts for the first time in perhaps eighteen centuries. This is a very enjoyable read.

Here's your ancient wisdom! Destroy a thousand Bibles, burn a thousand commentaries on the Scriptures, but save the works of the scientists!

[Lerkfish]

1. I was with you until that last line...

no need to destroy scriptures to preserve archimedes.
why not value all old writings? aren't they all of historic value?

[NNadir]

2. That is really, really cool.