Series

Gold and its secrets

Presentation of the researches done in three different CNRS structures concerning gold.

Gold and its secrets
- Some Pre-Columbian Figurines (3') : A complete analyze of three golden votive figurines stemming from the collection of the Quai Branly Museum located in Paris has permitted to reveal the composition of used alloys and techniques.
- The Gold Catalysisr (3') : The research on the use of gold nanoparticles in car catalytic mufflers tries to reduce pollution. Nowadays muffles do not work at low temperature. This film shows the method used to prepare the gold catalysis.
- The Color of Gold (3') : What is the real color of gold? Known and appreciated for its yellow color, gold can change of shade, from red to blue when it is under the form of nanoparticles. Alchemists from the 17th century conceived the “ruby glass”: the red color comes from the mix of gold to the composition of glass. The color also depends on the light.
- The Electronic, drop by drop (3') : Researchers from the Institute for Nanosciences of Paris are interested in the use of gold nanoparticles in order to optimize computers, because gold is most stable metal at this ultimate state.
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A thorough analysis of three votive gold figurines from the collection of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris reveals the composition of the alloys and the manufacturing techniques used. Paz Nunez-Regueiro, heritage curator, talks about the origin of these objects belonging to the Muisca culture (600 - 1600 AD) of Colombia. Maria Filomena Guerra, research director at the CNRS, explains the methods used: binocular magnifying, scanning electron microscope analysis which evidence the use of…

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Pre-Columbian figurines

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