Washington, Feb 23 : If you've ever wondered what the prestigious Oscar statuette is made of, then a new research by scientists from the US Geological Survey
(USGS), will help you answer that question.

According to the research, the Oscar statuette, which stands 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds, is made from the alloy Britannium, which consists of tin (93 percent), antimony (5 percent), and copper (2 percent).

The statuette is then plated in 24-karat gold.

This combination of materials has been the norm for a while, although it wasn't always the case.

For example, during World War II, when materials and metals were scarce, the Oscars were made of plaster.

After the war, the plaster statues were then turned in for the normal gold-plated versions. (ANI)