Pioneering X-ray technology is making it possible to read
fragile rolled-up historical documents for the first time in centuries.
Old parchment is often extremely dry and liable to crack and
crumble if any attempt is made to physically unroll or unfold it. The new
technology, however, eliminates the need to do so by enabling parchment to be
unrolled or unfolded ‘virtually’ and the contents displayed on a computer
screen.