hear

Canadian scientists at McGill University in Montreal say a technique called photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy can cause the pigments used in artists' colors to emit sounds when light is shone on them, a university release said Wednesday.

"The chemical composition of pigments is important to know, because it enables museums and restorers to know how the paints will react to sunlight and temperature changes," said Ian Butler, a professor at McGill's Department of Chemistry.