MAY REARVIEW

BORATES HELP TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
Texas A&M University Biochemist Dr. Joseph Nagyvary says he has unlocked the secret of why the Stradivarius violin makes its dazzling sound. He has concluded that chemicals used to treat wood for the violins made in Northern Italy hold the secret.

Nagyvary concluded that both borates and alum (which was used for pickling in ancient times) contributed to the sound of the violins, which sell for millions.

"We have clear proof now in experiments that the brilliance in Stradivarius violins comes directly from the wood fillers. You fill the wood with the chemicals that provide the brilliant sound."

"Chemistry is often an unrecognized, unheralded factor," said Dr. Attila Pavlath, president of the American Chemical Society. "Chemistry has done more for our lives than most people realize."

Antonio Stradivari, in his Cremona, Italy, shop, made the violins more than 250 years ago, along with harps, guitars, violas and cellos. According to the Smithsonian Institute, about 650 of those instruments are still in existence.

"When Stradivari died and modern technology was introduced, they gave up using these wood preservatives and insecticides, and all of the quality of the violins deteriorated and the violin makers didn’t even know why," Nagyvary said.

Nisus Corporation, based in Rockford, Tenn., today manufactures borate-based pest control products. "We are confident in the effectiveness of our products," said Kevin Kirkland, Nisus’ president, "but to know that borates were used as an insecticide on Stradivarius violins centuries ago is quite impressive."

BEE DELAY HITS BALLGAME
A scoreboard advised that the spring training game between the Anaheim Angels and the San Diego Padres was temporarily delayed after a swarm of bees invaded the field in the fifth inning Saturday, March 17, in Peoria, Ariz. The game was stopped for several minutes until the swarm left the ballpark.

RUGBY PLAYER DROPPED BECAUSE OF ROACH PHOBIA
According to the news service Ananova, Italian rugby union fullback Andrea Scanavacca was dropped from his national team because he is scared of cockroaches. Coach Brad Johnstone left him out of the national team for six months because of the phobia.

The coach found out about the player’s phobia during a tour to the South Pacific and dropped him because he said it showed he lacked character. Scana-vacca was finally allowed to rejoin the team months later.

According to Italian media, Johnstone said, "When we were in the South Pacific last summer Scanavacca did not sleep a single night because he had this fear that there was a cockroach in his bedroom.

"I understood that he was lacking in the required character and kept him on the bench until the game with England. But here he was great and even was a match for (England fly-half Jonny) Wilkinson."

IN JUNE

• Proper Insect Light Trap Placement
• Innovative Fly Management Techniques
• Wildlife Exclusion Methods