The Romans used nanotechnology without knowing it. The 4th-century Lycurgus Cup is green in reflected light and red when lit from within, thanks to gold and silver particles just tens of nanometres wide.

350

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The event

• The Lycurgus Cupc. 350 · Roman Empire. In reflected light the cup is green; lit from behind it glows red. The secret is gold and silver particles only tens of nanometres across mixed into the glass, though the Roman makers can hardly have known why it worked.

4th century

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