Since it wouldn’t exactly be wise to start ripping blocks out with construction equipment, archaeologists have to get a bit more creative when it comes to discovering the secrets still hidden in the Egyptian pyramids. Turns out, cosmic ray telescopes could hold the key.

Discovery reports that some brand-new muon telescopes have been built, with the goal of using the tech to detect structures and cavities still hidden in the Egyptian pyramids. The telescopes are built by CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and rely on micro-pattern gas detectors designed to reconstruct particles tracks in high-energy physics. Research teams plan to marry the technology with existing infrared thermography, muon radiography and 3-D reconstruction already being used to study the pyramids.

“Just like X-rays pass through our bodies allowing us to visualize our skeleton, these elementary particles, weighing around 200 times more than electrons, can very easily pass through any structure, even large and thick rocks, such as mountains,” Mehdi Tayoubi, co-director of the ScanPyramids mission, told Discovery.

The ScanPyramids team is planning to study some of Egypt’s most famous pyramids, including the Great Pyramid, Khafre or Chephren at Giza, the Bent pyramid and the Red pyramid at Dahshur. Many of these structures date back approximately 4,500 years. The study is slated to run for one year and be carried out by a team from Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering and a group from Heritage, Innovation and Preservation (HIP Institute) in France.

Keep at it, fellas. That Stargate has to be hidden somewhere …

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(Via Discovery)