Random Newpaper Question?

Question

I was taking out the recycling yesterday, I looked at the newspaper, and it wasn't very old (About a week)

I was just wondering.

Why do Newspapers turn yellow/brown?

What causes them to change?

Is it the type of paper, or substance in the air?

Answer 1

My guess is it's the vegetable dyes in the ink reacting in an oxidisation way with the paper.

Answer 2

Modern papers are made with witening agents that cause fairly rapid internal 'burning' of the paper. This happens even without sunlight.

We are doomed to have no documentation originating from the past century, or this, that will remain legible for long on paper.

Answer 3

Maybe, if newspaper was out in hot sun too long, it properly make it look like old. Maybe sun act as stove/fireplace.