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Sylvia Rose
3 days ago5 min read
Cherish the Chocolate: Sweet Fermentation
Chocolate is one of the world's most beloved indulgences. The journey from cacao bean to chocolate bar is a series of artful processes,...
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Sylvia Rose
3 days ago7 min read
Brettanomyces: Favorite Artisan Wild Yeast
Brettanomyces is a wild yeast with domestic traits. "Brett" is found throughout the natural world. Microscopy helps define and...
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Sylvia Rose
4 days ago4 min read
Isolate Lactic Acid Bacteria for Artisan Flavors
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) create delicious flavors and tangy textures in dairy products like cheese, yogurt and fermented milk. These...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 15, 20245 min read
Sublimation & the Aludel: Medieval Alchemy
Sublimation is a process of refinement, purification or extraction of specific elements. The aludel, a unique alchemical apparatus, is...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
Brownian Motion: Physics & Phenomena
Brownian motion vividly illustrates the appearance of chaos at a microscopic level. This phenomenon, first observed by botanist Robert...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 5, 20246 min read
Andreas Libavius: Science & Controversy of Alchemy
Andreas Libavius (c. 1550-1616) is one of the most influential figures of Renaissance alchemy, active in the Elizabethan era. His book...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 2, 20247 min read
Silica (SiO2): Nature of Glass & Gems
Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurs in the Earth’s crust, the microcosm and daily life. Silica makes ancient glass such as...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 1, 20245 min read
Silicon (Si): Fueling the Robot Apocalypse
Silicon (Si) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, a ductile metal important to industry and natural processes. Silicon is in...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 28, 20246 min read
Cobalt (Co): The Little Goblin Who Could
Cobalt is a silvery grey metal used across various fields, including science, medicine, and industry. It receives its name from the...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20244 min read
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20245 min read
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 24, 20244 min read
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 23, 20245 min read
Heliozoa: Microscopic Sun Animalcules
Heliozoa, or sun animalcules, are remarkable protozoa with bodies of spheres and radiating arms or axopodia. Found in freshwater and...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 16, 20247 min read
Nine Years War 1688-1697 France vs. Europe
The Nine Years War, also known as the War of the League of Augsburg, is a key conflict in European history. Fierce battles erupt,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 15, 20245 min read
Liver of Sulfur: Alchemy, Metal & Medicine
Liver of Sulfur is a unique compound of alchemy, metallurgy and medicine. Also known as hepar sulfuris or sulfurated potash, Liver of...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 12, 20244 min read
Diana's Tree: Silver Crystals of Lunar Caustic
Diana's Tree ( Arbor Diana or Dianae ) is one of the most intriguing creations of alchemy. Its delicate branches of crystallized silver...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20243 min read
Iodine (I): Origin, Properties, Uses & Facts
Iodine (I) is an essential element in biology, industry, science and health. It's known for its intense violet gas and strong odor....
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20245 min read
Cornstarch: Cuisine, Beauty, Cleaning Uses
Cornstarch, also called corn flour, is a common ingredient worldwide. A fine, white powder derived from the endosperm of corn kernels,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20245 min read
Scheele's Green: History's Most Toxic Pigment
Scheele's Green is a rich, vibrant green. Its color appeal surpasses that of the copper carbonate paints of the late 18th century and...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 8, 20245 min read
Chlorine (Cl): Properties, Hazards & Uses
Chlorine (Cl) is a vital element in nature, used in industry as a disinfectant. Characterized by its highly reactive habits, chlorine is...
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