Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Red Mercury

This "substance of debatable existence" is believed to have a number of properties, ranging from expelling demons and finding treasure to priming nuclear bombs. The search to find it has resulted in a mad dash to buy up antique sewing machines in Saudi Arabia.

I wonder if they're really thinking of cinnabar, a reddish mercury ore used in alchemical recipes for the philosopher's stone.

(via Mr. Gibson)

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