Sat Jan 03 08:16:32 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewrite as a news article:
Summary:
A recent study published in the Indian Journal of History of Science challenges the established understanding of the origins of mineral acids. Researchers at IIT (BHU) examined ancient Indian texts, including the Arthaśāstra and Suśruta Saṃhitā, and found descriptions of chemical processes that suggest the use of strong mineral acids predating their supposed discovery by Arab alchemists. They recreated ancient recipes in the lab, confirming the production of highly acidic solutions. The study also suggests a link between Indian chemical knowledge and ancient China. The research calls for a reevaluation of the history of science, highlighting the sophisticated and empirical nature of ancient Indian science.
News Article:
Ancient India May Have Used Mineral Acids Centuries Before Thought, Study Claims
GUWAHATI, January 3, 2026 – A groundbreaking study published in the Indian Journal of History of Science is challenging long-held beliefs about the origins of mineral acids, suggesting that ancient Indian scholars possessed knowledge of these powerful substances centuries before their supposed discovery in the Arab world and Europe.
The research, conducted by Vineet Sharma and Venkatnarayan Ramanathan of IIT (Banaras Hindu University), analyzed classical Indian texts dating back before the 8th century CE, including the Arthaśāstra and Suśruta Saṃhitā. They identified detailed descriptions of chemical processes that would have required the use of strong mineral acids like nitric acid.
The researchers recreated these ancient recipes in a modern laboratory, using ingredients mentioned in the texts like green vitriol, alum, and saltpetre. Using modern pH meters, they confirmed that the recreated mixtures consistently produced highly acidic solutions.
“Our findings demonstrate that ancient Indian science was far more advanced and empirical than previously believed,” said Ramanathan. “These scholars were engaging in sophisticated chemical experimentation, aligning closely with modern scientific principles.”
The study also points to potential connections between Indian chemical knowledge and ancient China. Historical records suggest that Indian scholars possessed “waters” capable of dissolving metals, a characteristic of mineral acids.
The research team suggests that this new evidence necessitates a re-evaluation of global scientific history, challenging the tendency to view ancient non-Western knowledge systems as purely speculative. They hope to expand the research with the addition of interdisciplinary work.
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