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Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20245 min read
Bacteria: Unseen Driving Force Behind All Life
Bacteria are responsible for millions of vital processes hidden from our everyday perception. These single-celled organisms are essential...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 16, 20244 min read
Xanthan Gum & Plant Blight: Xanthomonas Campestris
In microbiology the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris can be a gift from nature or a scourge of plants. Tiny but mighty, these...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 16, 20246 min read
10 Ancient Spices of Trade, Health & Beauty
Spices come from distant lands along ancient trade routes. These commodities bring flavor to food, health and beauty to consumers and...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20244 min read
Gum Arabic (Acacia Gum) Art, Food & Medicine
Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum, is a natural substance derived from sap of Acacia trees, especially Acacia senegal . This sticky,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20244 min read
Secrets of Xanthan Gum for Artists & Chefs
Xanthan Gum, a versatile ingredient with various applications, is a growing trend in multiple industries. In art and food it's valued as...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20245 min read
Elemental Carbon (C) Facts & Secrets
Carbon is the ubiquitous element. Art, beauty, science and health pivot around the life force of carbon. Carbon is a complex element...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20246 min read
Soot & Lampblack: Beauty, Art and Medicine
Soot is as old as fire. A dark, powder formed by incomplete burning of organic matter, it's used for centuries due to its easy...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20243 min read
Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses
Flowers of sulfur, often termed flowers of brimstone, are crumbly pale yellow powders popular with chemists, botanists, and artisans....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20244 min read
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Caustic Potash
Potassium Hydroxide, also known as caustic potash, has a history dating back to ancient times. A versatile chemical compound, it's used...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20245 min read
Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction
Decay is a fundamental aspect of life cycles. An essential and complex process in the natural world, decay involves breakdown of organic...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20245 min read
Fermentation & Rot: Comparing Processes
Fermentation and rot are natural processes. While they may seem synonymous, a closer look reveals the differences between the two....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 12, 20247 min read
Tycho Brahe: Golden Renaissance Astronomer
Tycho Brahe (1546 - 1601) is a Danish Renaissance astronomer and polymath. His observatory Uraniborg is a center of intellect and...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 11, 20246 min read
Women Brewers: Brewing History of Europe
Women have a significant role in brewing through history. Before brewing is industrialized, it's a domestic activity seen as providing...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 11, 20246 min read
Eight Dye Plants & Natural Dyes in History
From vibrant reds extracted from roots to the deep blues synthesized from leaves, plants have abundant natural dyes and also health...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 10, 20244 min read
5 Syphilis Treatments of European History
Syphilis is a complex disease, leading to unusual and alternative treatments in history. A sexually transmitted disease, syphilis is...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 10, 20248 min read
Seven Deadly Diseases of the Renaissance
Some graphics may be disturbing. Disease in the European Renaissance takes a grave toll. Ancient killers include smallpox, malaria,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 7, 20244 min read
Nitric Acid: Aqua Fortis the Acid Queen
Nitric acid, called the Queen of Acids or aqua fortis (strong water) is a vital chemical compound with significant importance in fields...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 6, 20243 min read
Niter (Saltpeter): Science of Alchemy
Niter or saltpeter (KNO3) is the mineral form of potassium nitrate. A soft substance easy to grind, it creates colorless to white...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
Michael Sendivogius: Adventures in Alchemy
Michael Sendivogius (1566 - 1636) is a Polish savant of alchemy, medicine and chemistry. He designs mines and furnaces, travels widely...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
Mother of Vinegar & Microbial Life in a Bottle
Mother of vinegar ( Mycoderma aceti ), is a fascinating compound of life, with a range of health benefits and versatile uses. The Mother...
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