The Light Found in Urine

The bizarre attempts of alchemists trying to create gold opened the doors to modern chemistry. In the 17th century, a German alchemist named Hennig Brand believed that because human urine was yellow, it must contain hidden gold. He collected a staggering 5,500 liters of urine and repeatedly performed outlandish experiments, boiling and distilling it. Naturally, no gold was found, but instead, he discovered a mysterious substance that glowed blue in the dark: 'Phosphorus,' the first element artificially discovered by humankind. Thus, the alchemist's urine-boiling, born from a ridiculous misconception, unexpectedly became a great first step in modern chemistry.