# Who are we to fight the alchemy?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/unexplainable-1382958/who-are-we-to-fight-the-alchemy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/unexplainable-1382958/who-are-we-to-fight-the-alchemy.md
Podcast: [Unexplainable](https://stenobird.com/podcast/unexplainable-1382958)
Published: 2026-03-16T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.vox.com/unexplainable
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP7460736749.mp3?updated=1773425190
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/unexplainable-1382958/episodes/who-are-we-to-fight-the-alchemy
Duration seconds: 1901

## Resource

Many alchemical texts are full of bizarre, metaphorical language. But what if there's interesting science hiding behind some of those metaphors? Guest: Lawrence Principe, professor of the history of science and professor of chemistry at Johns Hopkins University For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠unexplainable@vox.com⁠⁠⁠ We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/members⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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