Bezoar

A bezoar is a mass often found trapped in the gastrointestinal system, though it can occur in other locations. A pseudobezoar is an indigestible object introduced intentionally into the digestive system. There are several varieties of bezoar,…

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…

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…

Treasuries of death, viaticum, obol, more

Viaticum is a term used – especially in the Catholic Church â€“ for the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion), administered, with or without Anointing of the Sick (also called Extreme Unction), to a person who is dying;…

Belomancy, also bolomancy, is the ancient art of divination by use of arrows

The word is built upon Ancient Greek: ÎČÎ­Î»ÎżÏ‚, romanized: belos, lit. ‘arrow, dart’, and ÎŒÎ±ÎœÏ„Δία, manteia, ‘divination’. Belomancy was anciently practiced at least by Babylonians, Greeks, Arabs and Scythians. The arrows were typically marked with occult symbols and had to have feathers for every method.…