The University of Southampton is utilising nanotechnology to preserve HMS Victory for future generations.

nC², an engineering consultancy at the university, is cooperating with the National Museum of the Royal Navy to protect the historic vessel from fungus and the damaging deathwatch beetle.

The project aims to infuse the ship's new oak timber with nanoparticles, which are 1 to 100 nanometres wide, about 1,000 times smaller than a human hair.

This technology holds the potential to upgrade the quality of materials and avert fungal infestation, a rampant issue in antique wooden structures.

Rainwater seeping into the ship's woodwork breeds fungus that invites the deathwatch beetle. This creature, with a lifespan of up to 13 years, burrows into the wood, laying eggs and forming an intricate tunnel system that seriously compromises the structure's integrity.

The researchers anticipate the nanoparticle-enhanced wood will interact favourably with other materials used in preservation, such as glues, paint, sealants, and metal fasteners.

The consultancy has devised specially tailored tests to observe the reaction of nanoparticles when in contact with these different materials.

Rachel Triggs, senior consultant at nC², said: "HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, so she is really special to us here on the south coast. The goal of the conservation project is to make sure that she can last at least another 50 years, and to achieve this we must prevent water damage and fungal decay."

Dr Fernando Alvarez-Borges, a mechanical engineer at the University of Southampton’s µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, employed his X-ray imaging expertise to analyse how metal fasteners reacted when applied to nanoparticle-treated wood.

Dr Alvarez-Borges said: "I have visited Portsmouth many times and it’s been incredible to see our work being put into practice. You can walk around HMS Victory and see the maintenance work taking place, and it’s really rewarding knowing that our research is behind that."

This project is an innovative meshing of history and science, endeavouring to safeguard history in a tech-savvy manner.