In 1998, an anonymous collector acquired a document widely viewed as the most important scientific manuscript every put up for auction—the Archimedes Palimpsest. Using an imaging technique known as x-ray fluorescence, scientists at Baltimore’s Walters Art Museum, which now holds the palimpsest, and elsewhere are trying to recover the hidden ancient text by the Greek mathematician. Over 12 years, many techniques were employed by over 80 scientists and scholars in the fields of conservation, imaging and classical studies. The exhibition Lost and Found: The Secrets of Archimedes tells the story of The Archimedes Palimpsest's journey and the discovery of new scientific, philosophical and political texts from the ancient world. This medieval manuscript demonstrates that Archimedes discovered the mathematics of infinity, mathematical physics and combinatorics—a branch of mathematics used in modern computing.

Lost and Found: The Secrets of Archimedes
October 16-January 1 • The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
600 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD, tel.: 410 547 9000
Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $6 for students/young adults (18-25); free for 17 and under and members.