SOME of the mysteries behind historic books, manuscripts and art will all be revealed at a demonstration as part of Oxfordshire Science Festival.

Bodleian Library researchers will be demonstrating how they use high-tech scientific techniques to uncover hidden text and images on the Libraries’ treasures at the Weston Library on Saturday.

Visitors will be invited to demonstrations of techniques such as hyperspectral imaging and Raman spectroscopy – which help to reveal secrets on the pages of the Bodleian’s maps, paintings, manuscripts and books.

David Howell, head of Heritage Science at the Bodleian, will lead the demonstration. He said: “I’ve been amazed at the power of hyperspectral imaging since we acquired our scanner in 2014.

“We are delighted to be bringing our equipment out from behind closed doors to show the public.

“I really want to engage with the younger generation and show them just how fun and exciting science can be.

“Normally when people think of libraries, they don’t think about science. All they see is books. We are so much more than that and I hope that can be shown tomorrow.”

Hyperspectral imaging, once a niche technique used by astrophysicists to study the colour of stars, is used by Bodleian researchers to reveal text and images that have been worn away over the centuries or have been deliberately erased, amended or obscured.

The hyperspectral scanner can also identify unknown substances and pigments with a high degree of accuracy.

Mr Howell will demonstrate its use in the Weston Library’s Blackwell Hall.

A display of his recent work, which can also be seen on the day, includes a hidden devil on a centuries-old Armenian Gospel, a hidden picture of St Matthew on a page from the Gospels owned by Wadham College, and the text of the Bakshali manuscript, an ancient, Indian mathematical manuscript which includes the first use of zero.

Mr Howell added: “Our research at the Bodleian helps conservators to understand exactly what an item is made of or how it was made, which helps inform how objects are preserved and treated.

“We also work with curators and academics to fill gaps in our knowledge about our collections, for example our research on the ‘painting by numbers’ techniques used by botanical illustrator Ferdinand Bauer.”

One of Mr Howell’s collaborators, Kate Nicholson, a photochemist from the University of Northumbria, will be demonstrating Raman spectroscopy.

This technique uses specially-designed lasers to determine the chemical nature of pigments such as indigo, vermilion and cochenille.

Next Thursday, Mr Howell will be hosting a one-day symposium on hyperspectral imaging to bring together scholars and students in the new field of heritage science and imaging science.

The event is sponsored by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Centre for Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts.

For more information about Oxfordshire Science Festival visit: oxfordshiresciencefestival.com