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Sublimation & the Aludel: Medieval Alchemy
Sublimation is a process of refinement, purification or extraction of specific elements. The aludel, a unique alchemical apparatus, is...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 15, 20245 min read
24 views


Spores & Yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a common spore-forming yeast, known better as brewers' yeast. Some strains also release enzymes toxic to...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 14, 20246 min read
34 views


Bdellovibrio: Lifestyles of Predatory Bacteria
Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria are gram-negative , obligate aerobic bacteria who hunt other gram-negative bacteria to feed on their...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
28 views


Brownian Motion: Physics & Phenomena
Brownian motion vividly illustrates the appearance of chaos at a microscopic level. This phenomenon, first observed by botanist Robert...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
8 views


Difference Between Gram-Positive & Gram-Negative Bacteria
Differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are fairly straightforward, related to cell membrane structure. Knowing...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 9, 20243 min read
25 views


Yeast: Potent Power of the Active Microworld
Yeast is a vital component of the microbial world, involved in diverse ecological processes. This amazing fungal organism is essential...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 8, 20246 min read
13 views


Stylonychia: Wonderful World of Ciliates
Stylonychia is a fascinating genus of ciliates, a diverse group of active single-celled organisms living in both freshwater and marine...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 4, 20245 min read
16 views


Zaffre: Vintage Cobalt Blue Glass & Artists' Pigment
Zaffre (zaffer) is a vibrant deep blue pigment developed by alchemists, major pigment creators, by c. 1550 AD. Characterized by brilliant...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 27, 20246 min read
11 views


Flowers of Antimony: Pure Medieval Purgative
Flowers of antimony are a purified form of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3). Created through sublimation, they have chemical and medical...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20244 min read
24 views


Ammonium Carbonate: Sal Volatile Smelling Salts
Ammonium carbonate [NH4]2CO3 is the main ingredient in Victorian smelling salts. Also called baker's ammonia, sal volatile , salt of...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20245 min read
15 views


Glass of Antimony: Renaissance Purgatives
Glass of antimony , or vitrum antimonii , gives warm yellow or red hues. As Sb2O3, its use in alchemy is largely medicinal, one of many...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 24, 20244 min read
9 views


Faust: Fact & Fiction German Renaissance
Johann Georg Faust or Doctor Faustus is an alchemist, physician and magician, a cryptic figure of the German Renaissance. Perceived by...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 24, 20246 min read
34 views


Uric Acid: Inner Works of the Human Body
Uric acid is formed in humans during breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally produced in the body, and found in some foods and...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 21, 20244 min read
12 views


Uric Acid: Kidney Stones & Peeing on Plants
Uric acid is a factor in conditions like gout and kidney stones. It's also essential to the animal body, plants and the rest of the...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 21, 20243 min read
13 views


Urea: Body Waste & Organic Health
Urea CO(NH2)2, also known as carbamide, is an essential organic compound and waste product in urine. Formed in the liver, urea is an...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
11 views


S. pasteurii: Calcium Eating Limestone-Making Bacteria
Sporosarcina pasteurii is a gram-positive bacterium with the extraordinary ability to precipitate calcite and solidify sand when exposed...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
7 views


Calcium (Ca): Earth Metal of Structure & Strength
Calcium (Ca) is a vital element in life and health on Earth. A silvery white metal, calcium is a strong builder, from bone structure to...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
22 views


Galen: Medical Methods of Ancient Physicians
Galen of Pergamon (c. 129 - 216 AD) is well known in the history of medicine. His extensive writings and theories prevail for over 2000...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 19, 20246 min read
11 views


How to Cultivate Green Algae for Science & Health
Green algae are simple life forms with amazing impact on the environments of Earth. Algae can be grown at home for microscopy, biology...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 15, 20248 min read
27 views


Diatoms: Glass-Making Algae Crucial to Life
Diatoms, while invisible to the naked eye, are essential to the ecosystem and human survival. These tiny microalgae prolifically generate...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 14, 20246 min read
16 views
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