The classics: old and in the way?

The classics are doomed as an influence on modern culture—or rather, even more doomed than they used to be. An article in The Independent, a British newspaper, says a technological breakthrough is suddenly enabling researchers to enhance the legibility of some ancient papyrus texts that were unearthed in Egypt more than a century ago. The documents had mostly been too decrepit to read. But now, thanks to infra-red gizmos and satellite-imaging technique, the trove of ancient material is revealing its secrets.