The Shroud of Turin and Radiation

The Shroud of Turin remains one of the world's most perplexing and mysterious artifacts. Despite decades of study, there is still no definitive explanation for how the anatomically perfect image appeared on the cloth. Researchers continue to explore various theories, including the role of radiation, to explain its unique characteristics.

Here are five major enigmas surrounding the image on the Shroud of Turin (this list is not exhaustive, but highlights some key points):

1. The image resides only on the uppermost fibers of the cloth, ruling out the possibility of chemical reactions forming the image.
2. Although the image shows the entire body, not all parts of the cloth touched the body.
3. The image was not created by vapors from chemicals or the corpse itself.
4. The Shroud has a double image on both the front and back but no image in the middle, suggesting that the cloth collapsed into a mechanically transparent body.
5. The image reveals details inside the body, resembling an X-ray effect.

While the 1978 STURP investigation and later research by John Jackson and Paolo DiLazzaro explain some of these enigmas, the last two defy any physical explanation and are often attributed to the realm of miracles.

Radiation and the Formation of the Shroud of Turin’s Image

A major breakthrough in understanding the Shroud of Turin came when John Jackson proposed that an intense burst of ultraviolet (UV) radiation created the image on the uppermost fibrils of the cloth. According to this theory, the body wrapped in the Shroud emitted a powerful flash of vacuum ultraviolet radiation, forming the perfect 3D negative image of the body on both the front and back of the cloth without scorching it. This process, however, is unlike any natural phenomenon we know of, as no known human body can emit such radiation.

Jackson's hypothesis is grounded in a process of elimination. After disproving several other hypotheses—such as chemicals, vapors, or heat—radiation appears to be the most plausible explanation for how the image formed on the Shroud of Turin.

Explaining the Shroud of Turin’s Enigmas

1. The Image on the Uppermost Surface of the Fibrils: If the image on the Shroud of Turin were formed by chemicals, they would penetrate deeper into the fabric. However, the image is limited to the topmost fibers, suggesting that radiation was involved in its creation, as radiation can affect only the surface without causing deeper penetration or scorching.

2. Whole Body Image on the Cloth: The Shroud of Turin shows a full-body image, even in areas where the cloth didn’t touch the body. Chemicals or physical contact cannot explain this. However, UV radiation could have evenly discolored the fibers, creating the body’s perfect outline despite the lack of contact.

3. Image Not Produced by Vapors: Vapors from the body or chemicals cannot explain the parts of the image that formed without direct contact between the body and the cloth. The radiation theory suggests that a burst of light energy, specifically UV radiation, imprinted the image onto the fibers without any vapor or physical interaction.

The Role of Radiation in the Shroud’s Image

Jackson’s research suggests that a burst of vacuum ultraviolet radiation may have turned the Shroud of Turin into a perfectly sensitive medium for recording the body’s image. Creating such an image would require billions of watts of light energy, far exceeding the capabilities of any known UV source today. Additionally, the radiation would need to produce light without generating heat, as the accompanying heat would have vaporized the cloth instantly.

In 2010, Paolo DiLazzaro and his team further tested this theory. They concluded that UV photons could account for the thin coloration and the image's unique appearance in areas where the cloth didn’t touch the body. While this doesn’t prove the image was formed by a laser, DiLazzaro noted that laser experiments helped demonstrate the light parameters necessary to create an effect similar to that seen on the Shroud of Turin.

Enigmas 4 and 5: The Realm of Miracles

The final two enigmas—the double image and the X-ray-like effect—are often considered miraculous.

4. Double Image on the Front and Back: The discovery of an image on both the front and back of the Shroud of Turin suggests that the cloth may have collapsed through the body, which seems to have become mechanically transparent. This would explain the absence of an image in the middle of the cloth, where the body was in contact.

5. X-ray-Like Visibility Inside the Body: The Shroud of Turin not only depicts the body’s outer features but also shows bones, like an X-ray image. This suggests that the body became transparent, allowing the cloth to record internal structures like the bones of the hands.

Radiation: A Transphysical Cause?

As Fr. Robert Spitzer notes, the known laws of physics cannot explain how a decaying human body could emit an intense burst of vacuum ultraviolet radiation or how a body could become transparent. This leads many to conclude that the image on the Shroud of Turin has a transphysical cause, possibly tied to the resurrection of Christ. Jesus' resurrection involved more than returning to life—His body transformed into a glorified, transphysical state. He could pass through solid doors, yet He was not a ghost. The Shroud may be evidence of this transformation, captured through a miraculous burst of radiation.

Learn More About the Shroud of Turin

For more information on the mysteries surrounding the Shroud of Turin, explore the following articles:

• What is the Shroud of Turin? Here’s What Science Says.
• History of the Shroud of Turin (Cutting through the Controversy!)
• Where Did the Shroud of Turin Come From?
• How Old is the Shroud of Turin? 1,970 years (Give or Take 200).
• Facts About the Shroud of Turin (Age, Dimensions, Blood Stains)

You can also read Christ, Science, and Reason: What We Can Know About Jesus, Mary, and Miracles by Fr. Robert J Spitzer. This is the only book that delves deeply into the scientific evidence behind the Shroud and connects it to the larger picture of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. Father Robert Spitzer goes beyond just the Shroud, presenting compelling scientific support for other profound aspects of the Catholic faith, such as the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the miraculous events tied to Mary’s apparitions. If you’re fascinated by how science and faith can complement each other, this book is a treasure trove of insights.

*Originally published on May 27, 2019.