[joshuamcginnis]

I've isolated many xerophilic molds, mostly from caves around the US. As the article stated, the most you can do is spray ethanol on the article and wipe it down. That'll kill most microbes and prevent sporulation.

I'll have to think on this but I don't think there are any easy solutions other than just routinely cleaning and decontaminating the articles (at least the ones that can tolerate it).

[metalman]

The real issue is that we have created a vast niche environment, lots of peculiar aged organics, in an otherwise "sterile" environment, and these conditions are almost identical over the internal volume of the worlds museums, and things are moved around, from each to each, in little bubbles,microbe ships, carefully protected.

Also there is the "museum beetle".Anthrenus museorum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_beetle

[RataNova]

So routine cleaning only works for objects that can tolerate it, and a lot of cultural heritage simply can't

[0xDEAFBEAD]

Is there any reason not to do heavy-duty air filtration?

How about keeping each item in its own airtight plastic case?

How about both of the above?

[arnorhs]

Presumably this would work to prevent infections, but not to eradicate them once they have infected the subject.

[kevindamm]

Would a high enough dose of UV also work? I suppose it would ruin most pigmentation too, though.

[joshuamcginnis]

Exactly. UV would definitely work but is also destructive to many kinds of items.

[Cthulhu_]

I've got a bathroom mold cleaner that's basically a strong bleach. I'm sure it'd work on the modl, but... yeah.

[modeless]

How about gamma irradiation?

[sanjayjc]

Mentioned in the article as having limited applicability:

"When a mold’s takeover of an artifact must be stopped, there’s gamma radiation—pelting it with electromagnetic energy from radioactive decay to kill fungi and spores. But this technique penetrates deeply and can extensively damage materials."

[TomatoCo]

Does neutron radiation have the same degradation? I know there's neutron embrittlement for metals but do more plastic materials suffer the same?

[Grimblewald]

Consider the mechanism by which neutrons destroy life. It very much degrades most other things as well, much like gamma radiation.

[HPsquared]

How about alpha radiation? That will not penetrate deeply.

[somekindaguy]

Mold does penetrate deeply, unfortunately

[adastra22]

Irradiate it?

[flir]

That's how the mummy of Ramses II was treated - gamma radiation. I imagine an inert atmosphere was part of the process too.