Violin makers routinely finish their instruments with a thick coat of varnish, the better to protect and preserve the wood. Now Swiss scientists claim that this varnish also plays a role in the ...

Spiders might soon give you goosebumps in a good way. Strands of spider silk have been used to make violin strings that have a unique and thrilling sound, thanks perhaps to the way the strands deform ...

FRAN SCOTT: I love this piece. In fact I think it was the first bitof classical music that I ever heard. GREG FOOT: Ah yes Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. It's got the best startto any piece of music ever ...