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| TRANSPHERE |
Albert Hofmann, the pioneering Swiss chemist and advocate of psychedelics who discovered the hallucinogenic properties of LSD, died Tuesday. He was 102.
Hofmann reportedly died of a heart attack at his home in Basel, Switzerland.
Hofmann's most famous discovery happened on April 16, 1943. He was researching the synthesis of a lysergic acid compound, LSD-25, when he inadvertently absorbed a bit through his fingertips. Intrigued by the effect it had on his perception, Hofmann decided further exploration was warranted. Three days later, on April 19, he ingested 250 micrograms of LSD, embarking on the first full-fledged acid trip. That day became known among LSD fans as "bicycle day" because Hofmann began experiencing the drug's intense effects on his bicycle trip home from the lab.
In his autobiography, LSD, My Problem Child, Hofmann remembered his discovery this way:
"In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away."
The experience led Hofmann to begin experimenting with other hallucinogens and he became an advocate of their use, in both the arenas of psychoanalysis and personal growth. He was critical of LSD's casual use by the counterculture during the '60s, accusing rank amateurs of hijacking the drug he still refers to as "medicine for the soul" without understanding either its positive or negative effects.
In a celebration of Hofmann's 100th birthday in 2006, Hofmann told the crowd of well-wishers -- which included 2,000 researchers, scientists, artists and historians -- that "LSD wanted to tell me something. It gave me an inner joy, an open mindedness, a gratefulness, open eyes and an internal sensitivity for the miracles of creation."Hofmann was also the first scientist to synthesize psilocybin, the active ingredient in psilocybin mushrooms,in 1958.
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| a week behind the rest of the world are we? |
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| TRANSPHERE |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
a week behind the rest of the world are we? |
:stongue:
...yeah I know! Meant to post this just about a week ago but was flat out with less important things. Anyway - at least I put it up. |
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| gumble |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
a week behind the rest of the world are we? |
arent most trippers in some self-perceived form of time anyway? :p |
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| Lilith |
| quote: | Originally posted by TRANSPHERE
Albert Hofmann, the pioneering Swiss chemist and advocate of psychedelics who discovered the hallucinogenic properties of LSD, died Tuesday. He was 102. |
See kids, this is why drugs are bad for you.
If he didn't take drugs then he might have lived until at least 104 |
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| EgosXII |
man, imagine how different the world would be if he'd worn gloves, and the hadn't sunk into his skin...
for one, there'd be no psy-trance.
:toothless [hides] |
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| mmkoiman |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lilith
See kids, this is why drugs are bad for you.
If he didn't take drugs then he might have lived until at least 104 |
:stongue:
| quote: | Originally posted by EgosXII
man, imagine how different the world would be if he'd worn gloves, and the hadn't sunk into his skin...
for one, there'd be no psy-trance.
:toothless [hides] |
ZING! :p |
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