The Powerhouse collection of more than half a million objects tells us much about our material culture but it also inspires many questions. What are our objects made of? How old are they? Is anything hidden inside? Are the stories we have recorded actually true? Over time, new research and technologies can help us solve these mysteries — and perhaps reveal new ones.

The Museum is working with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to examine select pieces in our collection at a sub-atomic level. With this partnership we learn more about our collection while ANSTO develops new applications for their analytical technologies. Using their state-of-the-art neutron beam and synchrotron X-ray facilities combined with digital visualisation techniques, we’ve learned, for instance, how to identity different makers of our samurai swords and how a 200-year-old pocket watch can be made to play a waltz.