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"In AC's review of a recent Analytical Chemistry paper, Material Degradomics: On the Smell of Old Books, Charles Schmidt writes: "Leaf through an old book and one of the first things you'll notice is a distinctive musty odor–the product of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paper seeping into the air. This familiar scent speaks volumes about a book's condition. As a book ages, the composition of its VOC emissions changes characteristically. Volatile compounds that account for an old book's smell also supply clues to its condition."
Mmmm — chemistry! Via Twitter
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