New hydrogel preserves ancient waterlogged wooden artifacts

From the RMS Titanic to the SS Endurance, shipwrecks provide precious — yet rapidly decaying — glimpses into history. Conservators carefully dry marine wooden artifacts for preservation, but this process may cause harm. In order to enhance the treatment of fragile marine artifacts, researchers have created a new hydrogel that swiftly neutralizes damaging acids and stabilizes waterlogged wood from a shipwreck that is 800 years old.