X-rays reveal Archimedes secrets

BBC News ^ | 2 August 2006 | Jonathan Fildes

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

X-rays reveal Archimedes secrets

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.

[PatrickHenry]

It's not often we have an Archimedes thread ...

SciencePing

An elite subset of the Evolution list. See the list's explanation at my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail to be added or dropped.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Grrr, kill the dead guy.

My first reaction too, but, as several commented in articles spreading from this source, that is the wrong reaction. This monk saved it by converting it from a form whose value wasn't known and wouldn't have been preserved in those dark ages, into one that was treasured and protected, a prayer book. Love of God saved this treasure.

[Old Student]

"This monk saved it by converting it from a form whose value wasn't known and wouldn't have been preserved in those dark ages, into one that was treasured and protected, a prayer book. Love of God saved this treasure."

Good point! Now, is it too much to hope this stuff will wind up in the Penguin Classics series post haste?

[Professional Engineer]

Half full, half empty. LOL

It's a very good point.

[avg_freeper]

Archimedes Secret

- Intimate apparel for the sensual nerd that likes to feel pampered.

[Doctor Stochastic]

One hopes that these researchers don't disturb the circles.

[Virginia-American]

In The Measurement of the Circle Archimedes states

(1351/780) > sqrt(3) > (265/153).

No-one knows how he computed this. Continued fractions?

[A CA Guy]

Redrum?

[SunkenCiv]

I've added it, but won't bump it because it has appeared before. Okay, okay, maybe I will ping it, since it has been a year. Anyway...

about this process and these manuscripts:

Archimedes manuscript yields secrets under X-ray gaze
PhysOrg.com | 20 May 2005 | Staff
Posted on 05/21/2005 7:14:32 AM EDT by PatrickHenry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1407559/posts

Fresh look at Archimedes' theories
Discovery News | Monday, 6 June 2005 | Rossella Lorenzi
Posted on 06/09/2005 2:21:50 AM EDT by nickcarraway
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1419341/posts

related:

Experts urge race against time to unearth last secrets of Herculaneum's lost library
The Scotsman | Wed 27 Mar 2002 | Tim Cornwell
Posted on 04/03/2002 7:32:14 PM EST by Korth
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/659052/posts

related to Archimedes (a selection):

Archaeologists discover alma mater of Archimedes
The Los Angeles Times | May 9, 2004 | Thomas Maugh II
Posted on 05/10/2004 2:03:56 AM EDT by SteveH
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1132565/posts

Tests of Fabled Archimedes Death Ray Fail
ap on Yahoo | 10/22/05 | RON HARRIS
Posted on 10/23/2005 12:14:50 AM EDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1507536/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, my_pointy_head_is_sharp. You owe me *bigtime* for this ping. ;') This is an update to topics of 2005.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[SunkenCiv]

also related:

Ancient Roman Villa May Hold World's Richest Literary Treasure
The Age | 4-2-2002 | Robert Harris
Posted on 04/03/2002 5:27:07 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/658990/posts

[SunkenCiv]

an old-style FR topic:

White Male Inventions
Source: Newsmax
Published: 12/15/99 Author: Michael Savage
Posted on 12/15/1999 13:54:32 PST by technochick99
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38580e182bb4.htm

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Political Junkie Too]

Some of the text is missing, but what was readable says "...lasts longer than four hours, then see your doctor."

-PJ

[JohnnyZ]

(1351/780) > sqrt(3) > (265/153).

No-one knows how he computed this. Continued fractions?

It's kind of hard to imagine what kind of math he'd be working with. (Euclidean geometric proofs were easy because the rules were clearly laid out at the beginning.) It's easy today to see that:

780^2 * 3 + 1 => 1351^2 and thus is just a smidge greater than [sqrt(3)]^2

and similarly with 265/153.

But how Archimedes came up with it?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[bruinbirdman]

""So what does it say? "E=mc²?"" "

It says, "Gimme more money so we can turn on the machine longer."

yitbos

[Virginia-American]

Here's a discussion of one possibility. I've seen geometric versions, but didn't see any online.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I think it was through a series of inscribed and circumscribed polygons.

[NormsRevenge]

Revealing secrets of Archimedes - Scholars at Stanford use X-ray light to read hidden text

similar article , same title..

Rick E. Martin / Mercury News

Senior Conservator Abigail Quandt prepares to load a goatskin parchment bearing the work of Archimedes to be scanned.