Questions and answers with key voices in the field of chemistry. In his newest offering, Ball turns back the clock to study alchemy. C&EN reporter Bethany Halford spoke with him about the inspiration ...

Affirmation for alchemists: Medieval time travelers might be surprised to learn that people are still thinking about how to turn lead into gold. Credit: Yang H. Ku/C&EN/Shutterstock In late May, this ...

Alchemy in the Middle Ages was more than just the pursuit of gold – it was a blend of science, mysticism, and philosophy that captured the imagination of scholars across Europe. In this episode, we ...

For thousands of years, the practice of alchemy — chemically transforming minerals into gold — has been attempted and failed. While it is generally considered a pseudoscience by modern standards, ...

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Experimentation is the basis of the scientific process — and ...