The words “cultural heritage” will often evoke images of manuscripts, paintings, and other treasures of art and history, far removed from a laboratory. Yet, behind many of today’s most remarkable discoveries and preservation efforts lies Science.

Cultural Heritage Science has emerged as a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that bridges the traditional divide between humanistic and scientific studies. STEM scientists work together with conservators, historian and archaeologist to advance knowledge in dating, authentication, conservation, restoration, and risk management. Using state-of-the-art instruments and techniques, they not only answer long-standing questions, but also open entirely new lines of inquiry.

Within this broad landscape, physics plays a powerful role. From probing atomic structures to imaging entire buildings, it enables the study, safeguarding, and interpretation of cultural heritage with unprecedented precision.

Take paintings, for example. Reflectance and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy provide a non-invasive means to identify and map the pigments and binding media. In the opening article of the EPN 55/4 mini-theme, John K. Delaney and Kathryn A. Dooley showcase chemical imaging to uncover hidden details, from Bellini’s concealed trees and Vermeer’s unfinished portrait to the rare pigments of a Spanish manuscript. Their laboratories, at the National Gallery of Art, stand as a model of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Meanwhile, in Grenoble, one of the temples of modern science is welcoming cultural heritage scientists. Georgina Roberson et al. describe how the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) is implementing “Historical Materials Block Allocation Group”. This model allows hundreds of samples to be studied in a single run, greatly increasing efficiency of synchrotron usage. Their case study on Song Dynasty ceramics demonstrates micro-diffraction data can unearth surprising information on firing condition and regional production practices. With the forthcoming SHARE database, these and future datasets will remain available for reanalysis, so that today’s results may nourish future discoveries.

While synchrotron facilities provide controlled, high-intensity beams, some researchers turn to what Nature offers. Muography harnesses cosmic-ray muons, particles continuously passing through us and the Earth, to image dense or inaccessible structures (see Andrea Giammanco’s paper). This technique has revealed hidden chambers in Khufu’s Great Pyramid and exposed vulnerabilities in medieval structures. New developments aim to extend muography to medium-sized heritage objects, while accelerator-produced muon beams promise high-resolution imaging.

Closer to the ground, geophysical methods also play their part. An example comes from the study of the Grotta della Poesia in southern Italy by De Giorgi and colleagues. By combining seismic tomography and electrical resistivity methods, the researchers mapped fracture zones and assessed cave roof stability. Their work highlights the importance of geophysical surveys in safe-guarding archaeological sites where invasive interventions are impossible.

Finally, physics can even allow us to hear the past. In archaeoacoustics, acoustic measurements and physical modelling reconstruct and preserve historical soundscapes. The final paper, by Brian F.G. Katz and Damian T. Murphy, offers a window into this field. They share their experience, from the 19^th century House of Commons, where architecture shaped what could be heard, to the Notre Dame Cathedral, whose acoustic fingerprint they captured before the 2019 fire. By translating their research into immersive experiences, they allow today’s audiences to listen to history as it once sounded.

Together, these contributions illustrate some of the many ways physics enriches heritage science, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. Scientists in this field must combine the spontaneity of serendipitous connections with the deliberate effort of planned collaborations. Only through shared effort, it is possible to achieve novel insights and to deepen our understanding of objects and societies.

This collection can capture only a fraction of what is possible nowadays. Much more is being done, and much is yet to uncover: the questions to answer and the paths to follow are as numerous and varied as heritage itself.

© European Physical Society, EDP Sciences, 2025