author
Bernard Keisch
b. 1932
A scientist with a gift for explanation, this author wrote lively books that show how nuclear techniques can solve puzzles in art, archaeology, and everyday research. His work opens a fascinating window onto the meeting point of science and culture.
2 Audiobooks
The Atomic Fingerprint: Neutron Activation Analysis
by Bernard Keisch
The Mysterious Box: Nuclear Science and Art
by Bernard Keisch
About the author
Born in 1932, Bernard Keisch was an American science writer and researcher whose books made complex ideas in nuclear science approachable for general readers. In author notes published with The Mysterious Box: Nuclear Science and Art and The Atomic Fingerprint: Neutron Activation Analysis, he is identified as holding a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. from Washington University.
Those same sources describe him as a Senior Fellow connected with Carnegie-Mellon in Pittsburgh, where he worked on applying nuclear technology to art identification. That unusual mix of interests shaped some of his best-known writing, especially books that explain how scientific analysis can help determine the age, origin, and authenticity of paintings and other objects.
Keisch's writing stands out for turning technical subjects into clear, curious reading. Rather than treating nuclear science as something remote, he shows how it can be used to answer real-world questions, from studying materials to uncovering the hidden stories behind works of art.