All alchemy articles
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NewsArchaeological dig at Tycho Brahe’s island lab reveals some of his alchemical secrets
Analysis of what appears to be laboratory vessels shows elements Danish astronomer was working with
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OpinionThere’s more to alchemy than its mystical nature
It was crucial to the development of chemistry
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OpinionThe 1920s chemists who thought they’d achieved the alchemists’ dream
The now-forgotten transmutation controversy hung on apparent evidence of mercury transforming into gold
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ResearchSecrets of the purple smoke of first high explosive created by alchemists revealed
Microscopy study uncovers why fulminating gold releases colourful fumes
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OpinionEmbracing oddities
When new chemistry looks like alchemy or witchcraft, it’s worth taking notice
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NewsBotanists, chemists and historians come together to recreate ancient alchemy of making mercury
Fourth century BC alchemical methods for obtaining metallic mercury from the mineral cinnabar revisited
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PodcastTin chlorides
The compounds that put the 'tin' in tin cans and help you to reflect on your appearance
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PodcastAqua regia
Capable of dissolving gold and platinum to help make 99.999% pure metals, aqua regia deserves its royal status
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NewsNewton’s recipe for alchemists’ mercury rediscovered
Isaac Newton’s handwritten copy of a 17th century alchemy paper has been bought by US historians
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OpinionA shared secret?
Do chemistry and alchemy have a common ancestor, or are they separated by science, asks Philip Ball
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FeatureAlchemy on the page
Books used by alchemists offer insights into the relationship between these early chemists and their texts. Philip Ball investigates
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FeatureA fresh look at alchemy
Lawrence Principe cracks the alchemists’ codes and discovers the sophisticated chemistry they used
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