Atomic resolution studies detect new biologic evidences on the Turin Shroud

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 30;12(6):e0180487. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180487. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

We performed reproducible atomic resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Wide Angle X-ray Scanning Microscopy experiments studying for the first time the nanoscale properties of a pristine fiber taken from the Turin Shroud. We found evidence of biologic nanoparticles of creatinine bounded with small nanoparticles of iron oxide. The kind, size and distribution of the iron oxide nanoparticles cannot be dye for painting but are ferrihydrate cores of ferritin. The consistent bound of ferritin iron to creatinine occurs in human organism in case of a severe polytrauma. Our results point out that at the nanoscale a scenario of violence is recorded in the funeral fabric and suggest an explanation for some contradictory results so far published.

Publication types

  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Ferric Compounds / analysis
  • Forensic Anthropology*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles
  • Religion and Medicine*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide

Grants and funding

The work was funded by Progetto Premiale MIUR 2013 USCEF DFM.AD006.077.001. There was no additional external funding received for this study.