Research conducted by Research Associate Professor Dr. Khachatur Manukyan and his co-authors has been featured in The Conversation and selected as a lead story in the publication’s science newsletter. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the article highlights how advanced materials characterization techniques were used to analyze colonial paper currency, revealing the innovative anti-counterfeiting methods and materials employed by Benjamin Franklin.

The research demonstrates how modern scientific tools can uncover new insights into the technologies that helped establish trust in early American currency and support the growth of the colonial economy. It also showcases the interdisciplinary research capabilities of the Nuclear Science Laboratory, where expertise in materials science, history, and analytical techniques converges to address questions of historical and scientific significance.