More Than Just the Writing on the Page

A researcher is using DNA testing to trace the origins of Medieval manuscripts.

Why this matters: Parchment in the middle ages was made out of animal skins. The proposal is to analyze the DNA in various books and to use that information to track the movement of books around Europe during the Middle Ages. There are some significant hurdles they'll need to overcome, but if it works it will be very helpful for historians and is a great example of the application of modern science to solve old problems. (It's also near and dear to my heart as I'm currently on a Middle Ages reading kick.)