Sheffield researchers recreate the Lycurgus Cup’s shifting colors

Wall Street Turkish - International (English) · Oct 25, 2026 · 1m

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have recreated the color-shifting properties of the fourth-century Roman Lycurgus Cup, employing an ancient formula based on a piece of the original glass. The vessel looks jade green under normal lighting and ruby red when illuminated from behind. The team introduced gold and silver nanoparticles into molten glass. As the material solidified, nanocrystals emerged; when light moves through it, the particles block blue and green wavelengths, letting red and orange pass. Light that bounces off appears scattered, creating the cup's opaque green…