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.
How Satellite-Based Spectroscopy is Transforming Inland Water Quality Monitoring
Published: April 29th 2025 | Updated: April 29th 2025New research highlights how remote satellite sensing technologies are changing the way scientists monitor inland water quality, offering powerful tools for tracking pollutants, analyzing ecological health, and supporting environmental policies across the globe.
Chinese Researchers Develop Dual-Channel Probe for Biothiol Detection
April 28th 2025Researchers at Qiqihar Medical University have developed a dual-channel fluorescent probe, PYL-NBD, that enables highly sensitive, rapid, and selective detection of biothiols in food, pharmaceuticals, and living organisms.
The fNIRS Glossary Project: A Community-Sourced Glossary of Key Terms
April 28th 2025Established to develop a community-sourced glossary covering key functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) terms, including those related to the continuous-wave (CW), frequency-domain (FD), and time-domain (TD) NIRS techniques, the fNIRS Glossary Project features over 300 terms categorized into six key domains: analysis, experimental design, hardware, neuroscience, mathematics, and physics. It also includes abbreviations, symbols, synonyms, references, alternative definitions, and figures where relevant.
