You may be familiar with Isaac Newton from such inventions as calculus and the law of universal gravitation. What you may not know is that he was also an avid “chymist,” or alchemist. In fact, Newton ...

A study of archaeological remains from the 16th century has uncovered fascinating insights into the specialist laboratory of a European Renaissance alchemist. The presence of a "mysterious" metal in ...

Towards the end of Philip Ball’s marvellous book on the history of alchemy he tells the story of pioneering nuclear physicist ...

One of Isaac Newton's 17th-century alchemy manuscripts, buried in a private collection for decades, reveals his recipe for a material thought to be a step toward concocting the magical philosopher's ...

Part of the appeal of the Boyle myth may be that it promised a clean break: a waymark at which alchemy was cast aside and chemistry took over. But such changes rarely if ever happen in science, and ...

One of Isaac Newton's 17th-century alchemy manuscripts, buried in a private collection for decades, reveals his recipe for a material thought to be a step toward concocting the magical philosopher's ...

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Other times you want to get away to a quieter place where you can not only get behind the bar and make a few drinks, but you may also be able ...

Amateur science is a wonderful thing, but it’s got to be kept in check, people. Building your own space balloon or cataloging the local wildlife? Great! Taking a dump in your basement and trying to ...