5. Nanotechnology Found in an Ancient Roman Chalice
Place: England
Years Found: 1950s and 1990s
Est. Value: Incalculable
Given that King Lycurgus of Thrace is featured in the picture, this 1,600-year-old Roman chalice is known as the Lycurgus Cup. It may appear to be a simple, albeit elegant, antique drinking vessel, but it is much more than that. This cup holds the secret to technology that might detect biohazards at airports or diagnose illnesses.
Roman Chalice with nanotechnology ©Vassil/Wikimedia
When lit from the front, the cup appears jade-green, but when lit from the back, it turns blood crimson. Researchers discovered this cup in the 1950s, but it took decades to figure out how it could accomplish this. The answer was finally revealed in 1990. It turns out that the Romans were forerunners in nanotechnology, having modified the electrons in the cup using precious metals. Such technology is far from being a decorative item from HBO’s Game of Thrones; rather, it may hold the answers to both historical and future mysteries.
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