GoKawiilDecorrelation Stretch, a NASA Imaging Trick, Uncovers Hidden Angkor Wat Paintings
A NASA-developed image-processing method called decorrelation stretch, originally created to pull extra detail from satellite and Mars rover photos, has been repurposed to reveal ancient artwork invisible to the naked eye. Using this technique, a Singaporean archaeologist uncovered roughly 200 faded paintings at Angkor Wat between 2010 and 2012, including scenes of horseback riders and musicians. The method reached archaeology through Jon Harman, a medical imaging professional and rock-art hobbyist who adapted NASA's published algorithm into the widely used Dstretch software.