"The Invisible Revealed: Showcasing the application of neutrons in Heritage Research" by Dr. Joseph Bevitt
When: Thursday January 29, 2026
At 16:00 CET (10:00 EST)
REGISTER HERE (to receive the Zoom link promptly, even without being APS member)
Dr. Joseph Bevitt, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) - Australia
Biography: Joseph Bevitt is an Instrument Scientist and Group Manager at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. Originally trained as a chemist (PhD, University of Sydney), he now collaborates with local and international museums and universities to pioneer the application of neutron imaging in palaeontology and cultural heritage. His work has revealed extraordinary fossil insights—including preserved hearts, skin and stomach contents—and has contributed to the digital unwrapping of ancient lead scrolls, the study Egyptian mummified remains and complex mechanical artefacts. His research has featured in Science, National Geographic, museum exhibitions, documentaries, postage stamps and coins, with the research outcomes often engaging the broader public imagination. Aiming to bridge the gap between science and art, his works have been exhibited in the MAAS Powerhouse Museum’s Out of Hand and The Invisible Revealed exhibitions, the latter achieving the Museum and Galleries National Award for Research in 2022.
Abstract:
The Invisible Revealed was a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary exhibition presented at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum in 2022. The exhibit was developed in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Expanded Perception and Interaction Centre (EPICentre) at UNSW, and explored the fusion of science, technology, and cultural heritage through the application of nine, non-destructive nuclear, synchrotron and particle accelerator-based analyses—with an emphasis on neutron and synchrotron tomography—to uncover the hidden structures of 26 culturally significant objects spanning over 3,000 years. These artefacts ranged from ancient Egyptian and Chinese relics to Samurai swords and early modern technologies.
By revealing manufacturing details and internal compositions, the exhibition provided unprecedented insights into object histories, answering long standing curatorial and conservational questions. Digital reconstructions, including AI-generated completions of fragmented objects, enabled immersive public engagement and reinterpretation of heritage material. The Invisible Revealed exemplifies the power of collaborative, cross-disciplinary research in reimagining museum experiences and advancing conservation science. For these innovations, The Invisible Revealed project was awarded the 2022 Museums and Galleries National Award (MAGNA) for Research, highlighting its impact and innovative approach to cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.
View Past Recordings
More about PHYSICS MATTERS
Playlist
#FeaturedNews