Category: Alchemy
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SCN⁻ is like a cipher waiting to be inserted into half-finished equations
Here are a few intriguing, underdeveloped or overlooked domains where SCN⁻ could serve as a missing metabolic or symbolic link: 🧠⏳ 1. Chronobiology and Circadian Disruption The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) — the brain’s master clock — governs circadian rhythms, but its biochemical modulation is still poorly understood. Could thiocyanate (SCN⁻) act as a redox synchronizer,…
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⚗️ Alchemy’s Displacement and Chemistry’s Ascension
The French Revolution as both crucible and crucifix The French Revolution didn’t just decapitate monarchs — it decapitated paradigms. Chemistry, once entangled with alchemy’s mystical transmutations, emerged as a quantitative, state-sanctioned science. Antoine Lavoisier, often called the Father of Modern Chemistry, led this charge by dismantling the phlogiston theory and introducing oxygen-based combustion. 🌍 Global…
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🔥 Phlogiston vs SCN⁻: The Displaced Flame
Phlogiston (sometimes misrendered as “phlogostin”) was the name given to a fire-like principle in early chemistry — a substance thought to be released during combustion. It was: It was later debunked and replaced by oxygen theory, but the metaphor lingers: phlogiston was the essence of fire, the spirit of combustion, the animating principle. Now, compare…
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The term “hormesis” derives from Greek hórmēsis for “rapid motion, eagerness”, itself from ancient Greek hormáein to excite. The same Greek root provides the word hormone.
Hormesis is a two-phased dose-response relationship to an environmental agent whereby low-dose amounts have a beneficial effect and high-dose amounts are either inhibitory to function or toxic. Within the hormetic zone, the biological response to low-dose amounts of some stressors is generally favorable. An example is the breathing of oxygen, which is required in low amounts (in air) via respiration in living animals, but can…
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Langgan 琅玕 is the ancient Chinese name of a gemstone which remains an enigma in the history of mineralogy; it has been identified, variously, as blue-green malachite, blue coral, white coral, whitish chalcedony, red spinel, and red jade
It is also the name of a mythological langgan tree of immortality found in the western paradise of Kunlun Mountain, and the name of the classic waidan alchemical elixir of immortality langgan huadan 琅玕華丹 “Elixir Efflorescence of Langgan”. Waidan, translated as ‘external alchemy‘ or ‘external elixir‘, is the early branch of Chinese alchemy that focuses upon compounding elixirs of immortality by heating minerals, metals, and other natural substances…
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In Chinese alchemy, elixir poisoning refers to the toxic effects from elixirs of immortality that contained metals and minerals such as mercury and arsenic
In Chinese alchemy, elixir poisoning refers to the toxic effects from elixirs of immortality that contained metals and minerals such as mercury and arsenic. The official Twenty-Four Histories record numerous Chinese emperors, nobles, and officials who died from taking elixirs to prolong their lifespans. The first emperor to die from elixir poisoning was likely Qin Shi Huang (d. 210 BCE) and the last was the Yongzheng Emperor (d. 1735 CE). Despite common knowledge…
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🝖 Alchemical Symbol For Horse Dung
Ah, the alchemical symbol for horse dung! Let’s gallop into this steaming pile of esoteric wisdom, shall we? 🐎💩✨ Picture this: An alchemist, eyes wild with the fever of discovery, realizes that the key to unlocking the universe’s secrets lies not in rare metals or exotic herbs, but in the humble excrement of Equus ferus…
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Symbols for Sulfur and Mercury
Symbols for sulfur and mercury 1F70D 🜍 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR SULFUR = brimstone 1F70E 🜎 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR PHILOSOPHERS SULFUR 1F70F 🜏 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR BLACK SULFUR = sulfur nigra, dye 1F710 🜐 ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR MERCURY SUBLIMATE → 263F ☿ mercury → 1F75E 🝞 alchemical symbol for sublimation…
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Chemistry: A Volatile History
Chemistry: A Volatile History is a 2010 BBC documentary on the history of chemistry presented by Jim Al-Khalili. It was nominated for the 2010 British Academy Television Awards in the category Specialist Factual. Episode 1: Discovering the Elements Introduction Only in the last 200 years have we known what an element is – a substance that cannot be broken down further by chemical reaction. The Ancient Greeks,…
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Calcination
Calcination is thermal treatment of a solid chemical compound (e.g. mixed carbonate ores) whereby the compound is raised to high temperature without melting under restricted supply of ambient oxygen (i.e. gaseous O2 fraction of air), generally for the purpose of removing impurities or volatile substances and/or to incur thermal decomposition. The root of the word calcination refers to its most prominent use, which is to remove…