Scientists from the Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona have teamed up with Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron science facility, to use a brilliant infrared microbeam to understand, at a microscopic scale, the molecular processes affecting the decay or preservation of polychrome carved wood adorning churches and altarpieces depicting saints. Celebrated on 23 April each year, St George is not only the patron saint of England, but also of the autonomous region of Catalonia and many other countries. His image, and those of other saints, adorns a number of mediaeval altarpieces in Catalonia and around Europe. But many of these sacred artefacts are badly damaged due to the corrosive effects of air on organic-based glues or varnishes that hold or cover the thin silver or gold foils used for the saints' aureola - the radiant cloud that surrounds the depicted sacred person.
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