Editing Laboratory (section)

==History==

Early instances of "laboratories" recorded in English involved [[alchemy]] and the preparation of [[Pharmaceutical drug|medicine]]s.<ref>
{{OED | laboratory}}: "Originally: a room or building for the practice of alchemy and the preparation of medicines. Later: one equipped for carrying out scientific experiments or procedures, esp. for the purposes of research, teaching, or analysis; (also) one in which chemicals or drugs are manufactured."
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The emergence of [[Big Science]] during [[World War II]] increased the size of laboratories and scientific equipment, introducing [[particle accelerator]]s and similar devices.

=== The early laboratories ===

The earliest laboratory according to the present evidence is a home laboratory of [[Pythagoras]] of Samos, the well-known Greek philosopher and scientist. This laboratory was created when [[Pythagoras]] conducted an experiment about tones of sound and vibration of string.<ref>{{cite journal|title=World's Oldest Laboratory|journal=Analytical Chemistry|date=30 May 2012|volume=62|issue=13|pages=701A|doi=10.1021/ac00212a716}}</ref>

In the painting of [[Louis Pasteur]] by [[Albert Edelfelt]] in 1885, [[Louis Pasteur]] is shown comparing a note in his left hand with a bottle filled with a solid in his right hand, and not wearing any [[personal protective equipment]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schummer|first1=Joachim|last2=Spector|first2=Tami I|title=The Visual Image of Chemistry: Perspectives from the History of Art and Science|journal=Hyle: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry|date=July 2007|issue=1|pages=3–41|url=http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/13-1/schummer-spector.htm|access-date=2017-10-24|archive-date=2017-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122224720/http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/13-1/schummer-spector.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Researching in teams started in the 19th century, and many new kinds of equipment were developed in the 20th century.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lowe|first1=Derek|title=Laboratory history: The chemistry chronicles|journal=Nature|date=27 May 2015|volume=521|issue=7553|pages=422|doi=10.1038/521422a|bibcode=2015Natur.521..422L|doi-access=free}}</ref>

A 16th century underground alchemical laboratory was accidentally discovered in the year 2002. [[Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor]] was believed to be the owner. The laboratory is called Speculum Alchemiae and is preserved as a museum in [[Prague]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Museum of Alchemy|url=http://www.alchemiae.cz/en|website=Speculum Alchemiae|language=en|access-date=2017-10-24|archive-date=2020-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508083004/http://www.alchemiae.cz/en|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Chemielabor des 18. Jahrhunderts, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien.jpg|[[Chemistry]] laboratory of the 18th century, of the sort used by [[Antoine Lavoisier]] and his contemporaries
File:Edison in his NJ laboratory 1901.jpg|[[Thomas Edison]] in his laboratory, 1901
File:Lab in Medical Building.jpg|Classroom and Lab in Medical Building 1927
File:Lab in Medical Building, 1948.jpg|Labs in Chemistry Department in Medical Building 1948
File:Kulutusosuuskuntien Keskusliiton kokoelma D1974 11365A (30257239153).jpg|A laboratory of the Chemistry Department of the [[University of Helsinki]] on September 23, 1960
File:Fotothek df n-09 0000024.jpg|A laboratory in the 1970s
File:MUIC chem lab.jpg|Chemical laboratory in [[Mahidol University International College]] since 2009
File:Muic counter in lab chem.jpg|Early 2000s style of counter in Chemical Laboratory, [[Mahidol University International College]], [[Thailand]]
File:Chemisches Labor.jpg|Laboratory for organic Chemistry at the [[FH Aachen|University of Applied Science Aachen, Campus Jülich]], [[Germany]]  
</gallery>