Agra, India
The mud-mask mixture that Indian women smeared on their faces hundreds of years ago is now being used to clean the Taj Mahal. Archaeologists recently found the recipe for a facial treatment—a blend of lime-rich soil, cereal, and milk—in a 16th-century journal, which said it would draw impurities from the face. They discovered that the mud could do the same for the pollution-grimed marble of the Taj Mahal. Just brush it on thickly, wait 24 hours, and rinse off. Archaeologist K.K. Muhammad, who leads the team restoring the 17th-century mausoleum, said the cleaned portion now gleamed whiter than it had in decades. “It is withstanding pollution,” he told the London Telegraph. “This breakthrough has attracted attention from other archaeologists.” Italian scientists plan to use the same mixture on Roman ruins.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 13, 2024Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - moderate MAGA, automotive politics, and more
-
5 Grand Canyon-size cartoons on the Arizona abortion rulingCartoons Artists take on a chasm in reproductive freedom, the dangers of an abortion ban, and more
-
Crossword: April 13, 2024The Week's daily crossword
