Saturday, November 21, 2009

I Love the Smell of Old Books in the Morning

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Sniff test to preserve old books: "The key to preserving the old, degrading paper of treasured, ageing books is contained in the smell of their pages, say scientists.

Researchers report in the journal Analytical Chemistry that a new 'sniff test' can measure degradation of old books and historical documents.

The test picks up and identifies the chemicals that the pages release as they degrade.

This could help libraries and museums preserve a range of precious books."

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