A Duke University professor who developed a laser to study
melanoma has discovered a new use for the system: uncovering what's underneath
artwork without damaging the pieces in any way.
Dr. Warren S. Warren was at the National Gallery in London,
looking at an exhibit on art forgeries, when he realized that the art world
used imaging technologies that were 30 or 40 years old. So he began
investigating whether lasers could be used to uncover the mysteries underneath
layers of paint without damaging the art.