chemistry

The Experimental Fire

February 1, 2021

We’ve all no doubt heard of alchemy – the quasi-magical practice from the Europe’s mist-shrouded past through which curiously dressed old European men sought to turn lead into gold. However as with many such practices from Europe’s medieval and early modern period, it wasn’t quite as simple as what the popular understandings of it would have it to be. Sir Issac Newton was involved with it, as were the polymaths Thomas Harriot and John Dee, as well as a number of other persons of historical note. What exactly they did in the practice of it is another matter.

Conjuring the Universe

June 13, 2018

You just have to think that any author who purports to explain the foundations of universal laws and constants in a book with chapter titles such as “Much ado about nothing,” “Anarchy rules,” and “The heat of the moment” (hands up all who remember that 1982 hit song from the band Asia…) is either entirely barking mad or absolutely brilliant.

Organic Chemistry; A Very Short Introduction

May 12, 2017

What do chemists call a benzene ring with Iron atoms replacing the Carbon atoms? A ferrous wheel. Who says organic chemistry can’t be fun? OK, aside from most people who have taken a course in it…

Forthcoming Very Short Introductions

March 29, 2017

When I recently called up the Very Short Introductions section of the Oxford University Press website to check if any interesting natural history themed volumes were visible on the horizon, I found myself quoting that iconic, charismatic leader of the O.W.C.A., Major Francis Monogram, in exclaiming “Good googly moogly!”