Researchers recently uncovered intriguing details about Tycho Brahe, a famous astronomer from the late 1500s and early 1600s. They analyzed shards from his demolished observatory in Denmark and stumbled upon evidence of his hidden alchemy lab. This lab was used for crafting unique medicines, and the findings were surprising.
Among the expected elements like copper, gold, and mercury, the team found tungsten. This was unexpected because tungsten wasn’t formally identified until the 1780s. “Tungsten is very mysterious,” said Kaare Lund Rasmussen, an expert from the University of Southern Denmark. He highlighted the puzzling presence of tungsten in Brahe’s lab, questioning how it made its way into his work.
Brahe’s observatory on the island of Ven was dismantled after his death in 1601. Researchers examined five shards found in the area between 1988 and 1990, believed to be remnants from his alchemical laboratory. They used advanced techniques to analyze 31 trace elements on these shards. While many elements matched what experts anticipated, tungsten’s presence raised eyebrows.
Speculations abound about how Brahe might have known about tungsten. Its first mention in chemistry was as “Wolfram” in Germany, where Brahe had significant influences in his medicines. Rasmussen noted that bamboo and opium, along with other ingredients, were often used in alchemical remedies during that era. It’s plausible that tungsten could have played a role in some of these medications.
Interestingly, Brahe wasn’t just about stars and planets; he linked alchemy with astronomy. He saw relationships between celestial bodies and earthly elements. This worldview included beliefs that metals corresponded with human organs—like gold for the heart and copper for the kidneys.
“Alchemists believed that the elements of the Earth were entwined with the cosmos and the human body,” explained Poul Grinder-Hansen, a senior researcher at the National Museum of Denmark. This blending of science and mysticism was typical of his time.
Though gold and mercury were more common in medicines, Brahe’s curious inclusion of tungsten remains a puzzle. This finding not only sheds light on Brahe’s practices but also opens up discussions on how early scientists experimented with materials whose properties were not fully understood.
As we consider this fascinating intersection of history and science, it reminds us that the secrets of the past can still surprise us today. The legacy of figures like Tycho Brahe showcases the complexities of early science, blending myth, mystery, and inquiry.
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Tycho Brahe, National Museum of Denmark, Kaare Lund Rasmussen, University of Southern Denmark
