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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 14, 20246 min read
Spores & Yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Yeast spores appear as perfect spheres, found in diverse environments. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a common spore-forming yeast, known...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 12, 20245 min read
Silica, Silicon & Silicone: Differences & Similarities
Silica, silicon, and silicone refer to related but distinct substances with specific properties, applications, and origins. Silica is...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
Bdellovibrio: Lifestyles of Predatory Bacteria
Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria are gram-negative , obligate aerobic bacteria who hunt other gram-negative bacteria to feed on their...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 30, 20245 min read
Testate Amoebae: Single Cells with Shells
Amoebae or amoebas are single-celled microorganisms of phylum Amoebozoa . Testate amoebae build unique shells of silica and other organic...
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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 20, 20245 min read
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
Calcite: Metal-Eating Bacteria to Coral Reefs
Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). With stunning crystal formations and a range of beautiful colors, calcite also has...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 18, 20247 min read
Mercury II Oxide: Red & White of Alchemy
In practical alchemy, mercury II oxide (HgO) is often called the "Red Precipitate," with its compound Mercuric Amidochloride (Hg(NH2)Cl),...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 14, 20244 min read
Algae in Glass Houses: Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an amazing natural powder ground from the sedimentary stone diatomite. The stone itself is made of fossilized...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 13, 20244 min read
B. Linens Bacterium: Big Cheese of B.O.
Brevibacterium linens is a remarkable microorganism on a mission to spread its pungent aroma everywhere, from the unique bite of cheese...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 13, 20246 min read
Pyrometallurgy: Ancient Processes of Modern Alchemy
Pyrometallurgy is the high-temperature processing of ores to extract and refine metals. It uses alchemical processes in a modern...
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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 11, 20245 min read
Chalcopyrite (CuFeSâ‚‚): Shining Copper Ore
Chalcopyrite (CuFeSâ‚‚) is vital to the earth's geology. A primary ore of copper, this scintillating mineral is influential to health,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 10, 20249 min read
Foodborne Fungi and Mold: Facts & Dangers
Foodborne molds can endanger health, home and family. Hidden in pantry and fridge, these hardy survivors are unnoticed and dormant until...
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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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Sylvia Rose
Nov 8, 20245 min read
Carl Wilhelm Scheele: Poisonous Chemistry
Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742 - 1786) is a self-taught German-Swedish chemist whose work has strong impact on chemical sciences of the day....
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 7, 20244 min read
Vorticella: Mysterious Microscopic Pond Life
Vorticella is a genus of single-celled water-loving organisms with specialized cilia. As an adult the microbe attaches to a substrate...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 5, 20244 min read
Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass
Lye or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a vital part of human history. Also called caustic soda, lye is a white odorless solid. A strong...
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