The famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, known for his astronomical discoveries in the 16th century, was not just a skilled astronomer but also an alchemist. He ran a secret laboratory under his castle, Uraniborg, on the island of Ven off the coast of Sweden, where he produced medicines for elite clients. However, the details of his alchemical activities remained a mystery for centuries.
A recent study shed light on Brahe’s laboratory. Fragments of glass and ceramic excavated from the site were found to have high concentrations of nickel, copper, zinc, tin, mercury, gold, lead, and even tungsten – an element not discovered until 1781, long after Brahe’s time.
Professor Kaare Lund Rasmussen from the University of Southern Denmark and museum curator Poul Grinder-Hansen from the National Museum of Denmark analyzed the fragments chemically. They discovered the presence of various metals in the samples, providing insight into the substances Brahe used in his alchemical experiments.
Brahe, inspired by the works of the German physician Paracelsus, equipped his laboratory with 16 furnaces for heating, ash production, and distillation, along with copper pipes for cooling. He developed medicines to treat diseases like plague, leprosy, and syphilis in this very laboratory.
Studying these new fragments offers a glimpse into Brahe’s alchemical practices, but it also raises more questions than answers. Further research is planned to unravel the mysteries of the renowned scientist’s laboratory.
Brahe’s scientific contributions, both in astronomy and alchemy, have left a significant impact on history. His work paved the way for future discoveries, such as the laws of planetary motion formulated by his assistant Johann Kepler. Brahe, along with other great scientists like Newton and Galileo, played a crucial role in reshaping our understanding of the world and the universe.