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Scientists rediscover how Romans made colour-changing glass
Researchers at the University of Sheffield are reported to have replicated the Lycurgus Cup using gold and silver nanoparticles; the Romans managed it without a lab.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Best of BBNPublished
Photo: Chappsnet · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNWatch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from Best of BBN at 5:55 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Guardian's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The Guardian: “‘It’s magic’: scientists rediscover how to make ancient Roman colour-changing glass”, with reporting from Wikipedia, ResearchGate (Journal of Glass Studies paper) and Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology (via PubMed Central).
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 5:55 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Roman.
- BBN covered this story before: Archaeologists discover major Roman roadside station in Spain (October 25).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The Guardian‘It’s magic’: scientists rediscover how to make ancient Roman colour-changing glass
- WikipediaLycurgus Cup facts used on air
- ResearchGate (Journal of Glass Studies paper)(PDF) The Lycurgus Cup-A Roman Nanotechnology facts used on air
- Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology (via PubMed Central)Gold and silver dichroic nanocomposite in the quest for 3D printing the Lycurgus cup January 2, 2020 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentResearchers at the University of Sheffield are reported to have replicated the colour-changing glass of the Lycurgus Cup, which is sixteen hundred years old.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt looks jade green lit from the front and blood red lit from behind.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo is it painted? Is there a little light inside?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNeither. Researchers say gold nanoparticles make the red and silver ones make the green.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAbout forty parts per million of gold, and three hundred of silver.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentForty. So the cup is basically all glass and a rumour of gold.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe particles are about seventy nanometres across, too small for an ordinary optical microscope. The Romans did that somehow, and we needed until now.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDoes this change anything for me?
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDid the Romans at least leave instructions?
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Photo: Agent010 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Zalasem1 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rauno Kalda · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
Photo: Benmckune at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- NASA's Roman Space Telescope exceeds expectations by nearly 30% · ScienceDaily
- Restorers work to preserve frescoes in one of Pompeii's grandest… · Euronews
- Roman coffin at Westminster Abbey holds a medieval skeleton · The Guardian
- Mystery of skeleton in Roman coffin at Westminster Abbey solved · Live Science
- Roman Coffin at Westminster Abbey Likely Held a Medieval Abbot · Smithsonian Magazine
- Archaeologists discover major Roman roadside station in Spain · HeritageDaily
- Scientists rediscover how Romans made colour-changing glass (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 25, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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