Ancient Egyptian coffins and mystery of ‘black goo’

Re:Ancient Egyptian coffins and mystery of ‘black goo’ by ConsiderCrying on Monday May 25, 2020 @04:31AM (#23299197)

I love the clash of deeply detailed language like "we vaporized the samples and used ‘Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)’ and separated the molecules" with them using 'black goo' as a term.

I am fascinated that the goo wasn't just a random choice for mummification but apparently had spiritual/cultural significance. Never knew too much about Egyptian culture but this being a sort of 'regeneration' symbol, perhaps tied into some sort of afterlife beliefs, that's amazing.

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Re:Ancient Egyptian coffins and mystery of ‘black goo’ by Digit-Al on Monday May 25, 2020 @05:55AM (#23299584)

> I love the clash of deeply detailed language like "we vaporized the samples and used ‘Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)’ and separated the molecules" with them using 'black goo' as a term.

I would argue that 'black goo' is the most deeply detailed and technical term that could be used for such a substance. I think we can both agree that one cannot argue that it is not black. Now read the following definition of goo:

Noun. Any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery; frequently of vague or unknown composition, or a bodily fluid.

Can you think of any more precise and technical term for such a substance? :-)

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Re:Ancient Egyptian coffins and mystery of ‘black goo’ by Intermernet on Monday May 25, 2020 @09:04AM (#23300545)

Not precise or technical, but from an evocative perspective, I like the term "Necroplasm".

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Re:Ancient Egyptian coffins and mystery of ‘black goo’ by dekhn on Monday May 25, 2020 @11:23AM (#23301993)

"black goo" is the standard organic chemistry term for the nasty crap at the bottom of your apparatus after doing a reaction.

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