Alchemy: Mysticism, fraud or a forgotten science?

Could the alchemists’ coded manuscripts still hold undiscovered wisdom? Or was their ‘gold’ always metaphorical—a light hidden in plain sight?

Despite its reputation for charlatanry, alchemy laid groundwork for modern chemistry. But why did so many brilliant minds insist its secrets were real?

Alchemy is often dismissed as a pseudoscience—a mystical dead end on the road to modern chemistry. But what if its true purpose was never just about turning lead into gold? In this episode, we explore alchemy’s dual quest: the transformation of matter and spirit. From its ancient roots in Mesopotamian metallurgy and Egyptian mystery schools to its evolution in the Islamic Golden Age and medieval Europe, alchemy was a science veiled in symbols, pursued by figures like Geber and Paracels ...