| Hans-Günter Meyer-Thompson | Verschiedene
Laughing gas and the scientific pursuit of the sublime
Laughing gas and the scientific pursuit of the sublime
In September 2021, the UK Home Secretary ordered a review into possession of nitrous oxide gas, one of the most popular recreational substances among 16- to 24-year-olds. Inhaling the gas may be a rising trend, but as historian Sharon Ruston reveals, it’s by no means a new activity. Laughing gas, as it was commonly known, could be found in some of the most respectable and fashionable homes of 19th-century Britain. (welcome collection, UK, 20.09.2022)