top of page
Sylvia Rose
Oct 26, 20245 min read
Jan Baptist van Helmont: Renaissance Medicine
Jan Baptist van Helmont (1580 - 1644) is a Flemish physician, alchemist / chemist and natural philosopher. A disciple of Paracelsus , he...
12 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20243 min read
Alchemy: Circulation & the Pelican Phantasy
Circulation is one of many processes of alchemy. The purification of a substance is achieved through circular distillation in a pelican...
23 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20246 min read
Heavy Metals Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Chromium & Arsenic
Toxic heavy metals cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic are elements known for high density and toxicity even in small amounts....
14 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 20, 20244 min read
Separatory Funnel: Alchemy Lab Equipment
A separatory funnel is an essential piece of laboratory equipment used in liquid-liquid extractions, allowing alchemists to separate...
10 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 19, 20245 min read
Alchemy & Heat: Decomposition of Horse Manure
Decomposing horse manure is essential in the alchemical process of digestion. A flask of substances is buried in dung. As if by magic the...
22 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 19, 20245 min read
Meet the Microbes - History of Microbiology
Microbiology explores the world of microbes or micro-organisms. It reveals a hidden dimension of unseen forces shaping health,...
9 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 18, 20244 min read
Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter
Acetobacter bacteria are a group of acetic acid bacteria species integral to natural processes such as turning wine to vinegar. Their...
33 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20244 min read
Gouache Painting: Artist Essentials & Art Tips
Gouache painting has a unique charm and offers versatility for artists and art appreciators. This unctuous type of paint delivers vibrant...
15 views
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,...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20243 min read
Make Black Ink or Paint Pigment with Soot
Soot, also loosely called lampblack or carbon black, is traditionally used to make ink, painters' pigment, medicines and makeup. A...
11 views
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....
51 views
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...
11 views
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....
8 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 12, 20242 min read
Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria
Molybdochalkos is a blend of copper and lead. It's the standard metal used in the kerotakis, an alchemical creation attributed to Maria...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 11, 20243 min read
Hildegard von Bingen: Nature, Music & Beer
Hildegard von Bingen is a German Benedictine abbess and polymath often called the Sibyl (Prophetess) of the Rhine. She transcends...
21 views
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...
28 views
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...
12 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 10, 20244 min read
Prague: Bohemians of the Renaissance
Prague is an epicenter of medieval and Renaissance Bohemian culture, art and architecture. Capital of today's Czech Republic, Prague has...
13 views
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...
20 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 9, 20244 min read
The Four Medici Popes: Controversial Connections
Four Medici Popes shape history during their reigns: Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII, Pope Pius IV, and Pope Leo XI. Centered in Florence,...
6 views
bottom of page