Describe OxygenCanRestorePaintings here. Researchers from the National Aeronautics & Space Administration have found out that atomic oxygen techniques can restore oil paintings that have been ruined from water or fire. Radio-frequency electric fields generate atomic oxygen in a vacuum chamber. This removes organic materials from the surface of objects. It converts carbonaceous soot and char to compounds like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. A painting of Mary Magdalene was recovered and after 230 hours of atomic oxygen treatment, was restored after being nearly blackened by fire.