Researchers from east China's Anhui Province have created a sensor that they hope museums can use to detect atmospheric changes that may harm valuable exhibits.

The sensor can monitor temperature, humidity, lighting and dust levels and send data to a control center, which can adjust the factors and prevent damage, said Zhang Hui, a professor at Hefei University of Technology and the project leader, on Friday.

Zhang's team can also provide display casing with special glass and protective materials to shield artifacts from harmful light.

The temperature, humidity and lighting that artifacts are exposed to in museums can change with time. Without timely protection, these sensitive items can corrode.

Unlike in more developed countries, many Chinese museums haven't installed smart sensors.

An official survey showed that more than 50 percent of artifacts in museums or institutions in China have been corroded to varying degrees. More than two million items have been moderately or seriously corroded.