On bad science and my brain

[xiphias]

So, wcg has been doing daily science trivia questions, which are a lot of fun. And I've gotten NONE of them right.

Now, he's finally asked a question I actually DO know the answer to. Because it's about WRONG science:

. . . [D]uring the 17th century, a new theory of combustion developed. This theory identified a new element, though some thought it might be a special kind of earth, which was contained within all things that could be burned. After burning, the ash was considered to represent the purified substance, after all of this burnable element had been released.

Today's question: What was the name of this theoretical substance?

I knew that one. Because it doesn't actually involve science.

If you know the answer, answer it in Bill's journal, here, rather than in my journal. I'm not doing the trivia quizzes after all -- Bill is.

But it's sad to realize that I know how that substance works, aether works, the four humors work. . . .

Comments

[deerdancer22.livejournal.com]

Who said the humors aren't real?

[navrins]

Shh. Just humor him. :-)

I didn't get it until I read the comments about spelling. Knowing it was hard to spell made the answer obvious.