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Royal Society Finds Lost Newton Papers

Posted by Zonk on from the it's-in-a-book-reading-rainbow dept.

Quirk writes "The Royal Society has a story on a Lost Newton manuscript rediscovered. From the article: 'The notes are written about alchemy, which some scientists in Newton's time believed to hold the secret for transforming base metals, such as lead, into the more precious metals of gold or silver...The notes reflect a part of Newton's life which he kept hidden from public scrutiny during his lifetime, in part because the making of gold or silver was a felony and had been since a law was passed by Henry IV in 1404.'"

5 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I dub thee, Newton, the Full Metal Alchemist.

  2. Re:Lead to Gold? No Problem! by dtfinch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Easier way to turn lead and radium into gold:
    * Throw away the lead.
    * Sell the radium.
    * Buy a shitload of gold with the proceeds.

  3. Not quite lead into gold... by physicsphairy · · Score: 5, Funny
    But I've turned bread into mold!

    Fear my awesome powers!

    --
    When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
  4. First slasdotter ever! by BlackMesaLabs · · Score: 5, Funny

    Found in his notes:
    1)Find lead
    2)Convert to gold
    3)Profit!!

  5. Simple by asadsalm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh... you didn't know?

    You can make gold by a simple double decomposition reaction. You just need Copper and Aluminium:

    Cu + Al = Au + Cl

    :)