Centuries ago, alchemists thought mercury was the source of gold. In roughly two years, through a bit of government alchemy, mercury pollution could end up being worth even more than gold. Beginning ...

Can alchemy be described as a protoscience? Do ancient texts with obscure formulas and procedures describe mystic rituals and allegoric visions? Or do they record instructions to carry out real ...

This document, which Newton likely wrote in the mid-1670s, is part of an eight-page manuscript now housed at Yale University.* The manuscript contains extracts from Newton's favorite alchemist, the ...