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It was today in history in 1404 that Henry IV issued the Act Against Multipliers, a ban on the mysterious art of creating or duplicating gold, more commonly known as alchemy.\nIt came at an odd time for European science because the widespread efforts to transform so-called base metals, such as lead or copper, into noble metals, such as silver or gold, while futile, actually aided the discovery of things like combustion and gunpowder.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss the connection between the science of multiplying metals and religion; explain why the Ancient Greek notion of the four elements \u2013 fire, earth, air, and water \u2013 was so resilient; and reveal why plenty of people before Harry Potter were interested in the Philosopher\u2019s Stone\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018When Chemistry Was Outlawed\u2019 (Vice, 2015): https://www.vice.com/en/article/3dk7mj/when-chemistry-was-outlawed\n\u2022 \u2018The Day England Outlawed Alchemy\u2019 (Forbes, 2018): https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2018/01/13/the-day-england-outlawed-alchemy/?sh=11c1170539bd\n\u2022 \u2018How Alchemy Led to Modern-Day Chemistry & Medicine\u2019 (SciShow, 2022):\xa0\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQ_Gd7TapI\n#1400s #UK #Science\nWe'll be back on Monday - unless you join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!\nPlus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\xa0\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices