The European Space Agency has turned to humanity's distant past in an effort to reinforce the heat shield of its Solar Orbiter. The craft, which will fly closer to the sun than any previous research project, is to be coated with a substance similar to the paint used in ancient cave art. Created via burnt bone charcoal, the coating will bond with metal of the craft and provide a number of solutions to technical issues surrounding the complex mission which have vexed ESA scientists. More on the story at Space.com.