Get the latest tech news
Surprising element found in Tycho Brahe's alchemy lab confounds scientists
Renaissance astronomer Tycho Brahe, known for his studies of the heavens, was also a alchemist. A new study of glass shards reveals what Brahe was working with in his lab.
Now, researchers who conducted a chemical analysis of glass and pottery shards recovered from the site where the Uraniborg once stood say they’ve uncovered new clues to what took place in the Renaissance scientist’s laboratory centuries ago. Kaare Lund Rasmussen, a professor emeritus in the department of physics, chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Southern Denmark, was inspired to study the shards after wondering what insights they might offer into understanding Brahe’s alchemical work. Four of the shards contained higher concentrations of elements than expected, including nickel, copper, zinc, tin, mercury, gold and lead, the researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Heritage Science.
Or read this on Hacker News
