from ePreservation Science
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A new issue of the online journal for Conservation Science with 4 articles:

A Baranski et.al.
"Mixed control mechanisms in paper degradation studies"
(PDF article)

Y Keheyan & L Giulianiell
"Identification of historical ink ingredients"
(PDF article)

U Knuutinen & P Kyllonen
"Studies of polyester composite art objects"
(PDF article)

L Rampazzi & R Bugini
"Characterization of mortars of St. Lorenzo, Milan"
(PDF article)

from ICOM News
International Journal of Intangible Heritage
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A new journal, published by the National Folk Museum of Korea, which focuses on issues relating to the preservation of intangible heritage. (Also see previous posts on the subject).

from Chemical and Engineering News
Incredible Colors
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Another article on the analysis of the use of unusual materials in the oil paintings of the 16th-century Venetian School which explained the characteristic glow and luminosity of these paintings (also see previous post here).

Print Clock: A method for dating early books and prints
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A web-site which explains in greater detail the new-found theory of dating prints (taken from woodblocks and copper plates) using image- and statistical-analysis comparing breaks in printed lines and also the difference in their thickness. This expands on an earlier news article (see previous post) announcing the research done by a biologist! There is also a more technical scientific paper available (PDF file).

from PhysicsWeb
A sensitive approach to frescoes
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from Seed Magazine
Physicists develop tool to diagnose Italian frescoes
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A new technique which measures the moisture and salt content of frescoes up to a surface depth of 2cm into the surface, without the need for sampling or removal of materials. This is achieved by a combination of using a microwave source and a detector which differentiates the resonance frequency of the reflected radiation from the materials.

This would be a definite improvement over current techniques which use infra-red radiation as a detection source - the limitation being only the very top fresco surface is monitored as well as the inability to detect salt levels, which often is the primary cause of deterioration in wall frescoes.