"LIKE RECEIVING A FAX FROM THE THIRD CENTURY BC." More on the Archimedes Palimpsest and the ray gun being used to recover its text:

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.

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.

In the treatises, the 3rd Century BC mathematician develops numerical descriptions of the real world.

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Read it all. The researchers are continuing their work until August 7th, when the machinery is shut down for maintainance. And a webcast tomorrow evening will allow people to watch the work in progress.

(Via Archaeologica News.)