Of all the fascinating things in the history of science, probably the most fascinating was alchemy.
Through the ages, scientists of all types tried their hand at converting lead to gold. In hindsight it may look like a foolish endeavour. but, hindsight is always 20-20.
in the process of trying to convert lead to gold – a number of interesting scientific discoveries were made. But alas, lead remained lead. And gold it did not become!
So, why all this on a dead science!
Well, yesterday came the revelation that Sir Issac Newton’s diaries on Alchemy were found – in some dingy old library, locked away safely.
I was pondering about all those seemingly impossible things that scientists through the ages attempted. And wondered, what kind of a society we would live in, if they bowed down to social/religious pressure and didn’t try what they did.
It must have been so much more difficult at that point in time to have been different.
Having said that, intolerance towards new ideas – or even old – seems to be creeping back into all our societies and religous dogma seems to be overpowering scienctific inquiry.
Are we once again moving towards the dark ages. Or is there a reformation in sight?