Viggen Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Italy's National Institute of Nuclear Physics, at its laboratories in Gran Sasso, has received 120 lead bricks from an ancient Roman ship that sunk off of the coast of Sardinia 2,000 years ago. The ship's cargo was recovered 20 years ago, thanks to the contribution of the INFN, which at the time received 150 of these bricks. The INFN is now receiving additional bricks to complete the shield for the CUORE experiment, which is being conducted to study extremely rare events involving neutrinos. After 2,000 years under the sea, this lead will now be used to perform a task 1,400 metres under the Apennine mountain. - "This lead," - explains Professor Ettore Fiorini - "which is responsible for the CUORE experiment, represents an extremely important material for shielding the apparatuses used to conduct research on rare events - a material that must be totally free of radioactive contamination". Lucia Votano, Director of the INFN laboratories in Gran Sasso, explains that "it's great and unique that the most advanced and innovative technologies must rely on archaeology and the technology of the ancient Romans. The ancient lead recoverd from the bottom of the sea will be essential for protecting the experiment from natural radioactivity, which could obscure the rare process of neutrinoless double beta decay"... ...full article at Physorg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted April 25, 2010 Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Utterly astounding. Still, it makes one think. Maybe in two thousand years time they'll find a use for the Toyota Prius that will enrich peoples lives. Or maybe not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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