Sheffield Scientists Crack 1,600-Year-Old Recipe for Roman Color-Shifting Glass
University of Sheffield researchers have successfully recreated the optical properties of the 4th-century Lycurgus Cup, a Roman artifact that shifts from green to red depending on lighting. By replicating an ancient recipe involving gold and silver nanoparticles, scientists produced a modern glass sculpture that mimics this effect. The new piece, created by artist Elliot Walker, will be displayed at the university's Festival of Mind in November before joining the Turner Museum of Glass collection.