Sylvia Rose
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 155 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 134 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 134 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 135 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 133 min read
Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action
Rust, the reddish-brown coating on metals, is formed by exposure to oxygen and moisture. Responsible for this phenomenon are several...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 135 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 127 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 116 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 63 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 54 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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Sylvia Rose
Oct 54 min read
Vinegar Eels: Life Cycle & Survival in Vinegar
Vinegar eels ( Turbovecula aceti ) are a vital link in the complexity of microscopic life forms. These tiny creatures are only 1-2 mm...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 35 min read
Book of Comarius: Making Gold with Cleopatra
The Book of Comarius is a mysterious tome dedicated to Cleopatra the Divine, or Cleopatra the Alchemist of Alexandria. In it, Comarius, a...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 23 min read
Tartrate Crystals: Secrets of Tartaric Acid
Tartrate crystals appear on the bottom of a wine glass or in a bottle of grape juice, created by a reaction of tartaric acid. Reference...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 26 min read
Making Lixivium: Alchemy of Lixiviation
Lixiviation or leaching is an ancient process alchemy still used today in making tea, extracting dyes and ores. Lixivium is a general...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 14 min read
Ammonia: Formation, Hazards & Reactions
Ammonia is a simple yet mysterious versatile compound vital to life on Earth. Explore its formation, historical significance, potential...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15 min read
Chemistry of Rust: Minerals & Pigment Colors
Rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel due to exposure to oxygen and moisture is a fascinating display of chemistry....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Chalcedony Gems: Secrets of Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), or silica, holds fascinating secrets within its molecular structure. It's one of the most abundant minerals found...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Carbuncle: Red Stone of Magic & Medicine
Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 295 min read
Magnetite: Ubiquitous Iron Ore with Soul
Magnetite is an iron ore formed below the earth's surface. As one of the primary iron ores it keeps the wheels of progress turning....
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