learn more
News on computed tomography

Computed Tomography Used in the Study of Prehistoric Artifacts

Millions of Years Ago

When quality assurance staff want to examine the interior of complex assemblies using non-destructive methods, X-ray-based computed tomography is often used. Thanks to its high radiation energy, it is suitable even for very dense materials, while also offering very high resolution. That’s reason enough to try out the technology on fossilized objects as well. And it’s been a success, as a look beyond the usual scope demonstrates.

What do you do if you are a scientist and want to analyze the skull bones of a lion around the inner ear? One option: you take the skull of a dead lion, saw it open and look inside. But what if the skull to be examined is millions of years old and is also an irretrievable unique specimen? Sawing it up is probably out of the question.

For the highly accurate digitization of the unique research objects, a TomoScope® XS Plus with a new sub-microfocus tube is used, which was jointly financed by funds from the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art (HMWK, as part of the ERDF) and the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung's own funds (including SOSA).

Read more here

Millions of Years Ago

The Werth TomoScope® XS Plus can be used to digitize collection items that are millions of years old, such as this fly in amber (source: Dr. Solórzano Kraemer, Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum). The compound eyes are clearly recognizable and the thickness of the chitinous carapace of 3 µm can be measured

Contact us
Select a different country or region to see content in your language.
more close