NPR reports that the Church of England planning to try olive oil in an attempt to save the exterior stone of Yorkminster:
The British have some stunning cathedrals, and York Minster, in the north of England, is one of the most magnificent of all.
Construction on it began 800 years ago, and a mere 2 1/2 centuries later, work was complete.
The result was one of Europe’s largest Gothic cathedrals and one that’s had a rough ride through history: It’s been pillaged and looted, and damaged by devastating fires and lightning strikes.
Today, there’s another threat: acid rain. As a result, the cathedral’s stones are decaying.
British scientists and archaeologists have teamed up to try to find a solution. One promising possibility may be as close as the kitchen cupboard: olive oil.
More at The Telegraph and Chemistry World.