https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. More than 500,000 years ago, our human ancestors used large, stone tools known as "Acheulean handaxes," to cut meat and wood, and dig for tubers. Often made from flint, these prehistoric oval and pear-shaped tools are flaked on both sides and have a pointed end. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-15th-century-french-depicts-ancient.html Archaeology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:10:06 EDT news616842602 The restoration of artworks often involves solvents which have toxic properties. Now researchers have succeeded for the first time in creating a non-toxic and sustainable cleaning agent for paintings. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-non-toxic-sustainable-agent.html Biochemistry Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:26:03 EDT news611490361 A team of chemical engineers affiliated with several institutions in Europe has determined why Old Masters of the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries added egg yolk to their oil-based paints. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Communications, the group added fresh egg yolk to the types of oils used by Renaissance painters and tested them to see changes it made to their properties. https://phys.org/news/2023-03-egg-yolk-masters-oil.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 29 Mar 2023 11:18:11 EDT news599307484 When you think of soaps, you may first picture the liquid foams or solid bars that wash away dirt, grime and bacteria. However, not all soaps are cleansers. In the art conservation world, metal carboxylates, also known as "metal soaps," are undesirable: They form in ongoing chemical reactions that can damage the integrity of the paint and the appearance of paintings over time. https://phys.org/news/2022-03-formation-metal-soaps-oil-hinder.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:52:57 EST news565613572 Watching paint dry may seem like a boring hobby, but understanding what happens after the paint dries can be key in preserving precious works of art. https://phys.org/news/2019-08-scientists-explore-aged-microscopic-efforts.html Materials Science Thu, 29 Aug 2019 12:03:19 EDT news486298990 On a molecular scale, there are surprising similarities between the outer shell of a golf ball and the white oil paint used by Van Gogh and his contemporaries. In both cases, the interactions between zinc ions and polymer chains are at the basis of important material properties. In a recent publication in the scientific journal Science Advances, Rijksmuseum and University of Amsterdam researchers describe the role of zinc ions in the molecular network of oil paint. Their studies could explain why paintings made with zinc white pigment are so sensitive to high humidity conditions. https://phys.org/news/2019-06-similarities-van-gogh-golf-ball.html Polymers Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:35:26 EDT news480583944 Experts have long known that as oil paintings age, soaps can form within the paint, degrading the appearance of the artworks. The process significantly complicates the preservation of oil paintings—and cultural manifestations, which the paintings themselves help to preserve. https://phys.org/news/2018-01-pigments-oil-linked-artwork-degradation.html Materials Science Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:47:01 EST news435404800