The Conversation: Deciphering the Philosophers’ Stone

Institute fellows Megan Piorko and Sarah Lang help crack a 400-year-old alchemical cipher.
October 14, 2021

The work of Science History Institute fellows Megan Piorko and Sarah Lang is featured in an article in The Conversation, a nonprofit news network that publishes stories written by academic experts and researchers. The article talks about how Piorko (a second-year Allington Postdoctoral Fellow) and Lang (a short-term Herdegen Fellow) contributed to the decryption of a 400-year-old cipher written by alchemists John Dee and his son, Arthur Dee. As suspected, the ciphertext contained an alchemical recipe for the fabled philosophers’ stone, an elixir that is supposed to prolong the owner’s life and grant the ability to produce gold from base metals.

Read more on theconversation.com >>

Alchemical emblem in Sloane MS 1876 f1v. © British Library Board, Author provided (no reuse).

More News

proclamation showing illustration of William Penn
news

Philadelphia Mayor Declares June 10 ‘Science History Day’

Official proclamation invites the public to join the Institute for ‘Curious Histories Fest: A Taste of Water,’ a free, daylong celebration focused on the science and history of water.
Moore Medal
news

Science History Institute Remembers Board of Advisors Member Gordon Moore

The Intel cofounder passed away March 24, 2023, at the age of 94.
news

Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold to Receive 2023 SCI Perkin Medal

The Caltech professor and Ullyot lecturer will receive the prestigious award as part of the Institute's Innovation Day conference on September 12.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.