Nuclear techniques are being used to protect and preserve works of art around the world. The techniques are supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which operates projects to preserve cultural heritage artefacts using radiation. Books, furniture, archives, musical instruments, wooden sculptures even mummies can be attacked and destroyed by bacteria, fungi, mould and insects. They are brought from churches, museums and conservation centres to irradiation facilities where they are treated with gamma rays. One centre is the IRASM Radiation Processing Centre in Bucharest, which was established in 2000 with the support of an IAEA Technical Cooperation project.