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What do lemon juice and espionage have in common? Secret inks, of course. Learn about the science and history of secret inks, and learn how to make your own.
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Piece Description
What do lemon juice and espionage have in common? Secret inks, of course. Learn about the science and history of secret inks, and learn how to make your own.
Broadcast History
Distributed as a podcast 1/08.
Transcript
More than 2,000 years ago, Ovid wrote of using the milk of the tithymalus plant to write secret love letters in his poem ?The Art of Love?. In more modern times, secret ink has also been used for political intrigue. In Berlin, visitors to the Stasi Museum can learn how the East German secret police passed secret messages using cerium oxalate carbon papers and a special chemical developing process with a solution of manganese sulfate, hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals. When the carbon papers were developed with the correct solution, the secret messages were revealed.
You don?t need a chemistry lab to make your own inks at home. In fact, chances are good you have all the ingredients you need to create secret ink in your own kitchen. Note to parents, please DO try this at home. Try writing a message with lemon juice, onion juice, vinegar or milk on a plain piece of paper, then let i...
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