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LSDLysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD or acid, was created in 1938 by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann. It's since become a linchpin for an entire aesthetic, fueled a counterculture movement, and is being studied for potential therapeutic uses beyond its reputation as a recreational drug. This semi-synthetic psychoactive substance derived from ergot can cause users to experience perception distortions and hallucinations resembling synesthesia, a neurological occurrence or trait that can cause senses to overlap, giving color to numbers and flavors to names. The LSD molecule binds to serotonin receptors in the brain, found in spades in regions of the brain associated with learning. It's believed that this receptor binding is key to the iconic hallucinations experienced on the drug.Explore LSD

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In 1970, Pittsburgh's Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter on LSDIt was the 174th no-hitter in MLB history, but the only one where the pitcher claimed to be high at the time. This animated video uses Ellis’ own comments from a 2008 NPR interview where he described why he took LSD that morning and the difficulty of pitching while tripping. Victory Journal LSD (better known as acid) was created in 1938 by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert HofmannLysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD or acid, was first developed synthetically in 1938 by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann. It's since become a linchpin for an entire aesthetic, fueled a counterculture movement, and is being studied for potential therapeutic uses. 1440 'Brave New World' author Aldous Huxley turned to LSD on his deathbedAs "Brave New World" author Aldous Huxley lay dying of cancer in 1963, he asked his wife Laura to dose him with the hallucinogen LSD. A month later, Laura Huxley wrote a letter detailing the author's final trip, which she notes ended "so slowly, so gently, like a piece of music just finishing in a sempre piu piano dolcemente." Letters of Note LSD-like drugs may inspire new antidepressantsLSD and psilocybin have shown promise as antidepressants. Using a virtual library of similar chemical compounds, researchers determined via animal studies that two molecules inspired by LSD have antidepressant effects without any associated hallucinogenic experience. These molecules were found to be 40 times more potent than the common antidepressant fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, with antidepressant effects lasting up to 21 days. Nature An overview of modern clinical research on LSDResearchers have determined that LSD, taken in a medical setting, decreases anxiety related to "life-threatening disease," reduces brain reactivity to fearful faces, increases the meaning and emotional response derived from music, and more. No complications of LSD administration have been observed in medical settings, though acute adverse effects, including exhaustion, nausea, and difficulty concentrating. Nature Only a fraction of LSD reaches the brain, but it concentrates in key regionsWhen taken, LSD is absorbed quickly (often within an hour of ingestion) and exerts its effects primarily by binding to serotonin receptors. While only a small amount enters the brain, it's active in regions controlling the visual and auditory senses, potentially driving its psychedelic effects. The drug doesn't linger in the body, and is typically undetectable within a day. Institute of Human Anatomy LSD's molecular structure closely resembles the neurotransmitter serotonin Lysergic acid diethylamide (C20H25N3O) is a colorless, odorless, and flavorless chemical compound that can induce altered perception, mood, and cognition. One of its roles in the brain is as a serotonin agonist, meaning it enters serotonin receptors and triggers a fraction of the response the neurotransmitter would typically warrant. Neuroscientifically Challenged LSD was discovered accidentally after its inventor touched his face and hallucinatedUnlike many drugs, the first time a human ever tripped on acid was recorded first-hand by a scientist. Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, curious about the "not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition" that overcame him after an accidental exposure, set up a rigorous experiment to test the drug's effects on himself. Science History Institute LSD was derived from natural compounds produced by the ergot fungus Ergot is a fungus that slowly infects and replaces individual grains on grasses, including rye and wheat. Ingesting ergot can cause ergotism, a form of poisoning with symptoms—including headaches, hallucinations, gangrene, and convulsions—varying by season and geography. This grain was used for medicinal purposes as early as the 1500s. American Society for Microbiology LSD fueled a countercultural movement before evolving into a potential therapeuticAs the use of recreational psychedelics became common, authorities were quick to claim LSD had lasting adverse effects, criminalizing the drug and halting scientific study for decades. Over time, LSD's reputation shifted from a potential source of enlightenment to a dangerous drug that could dim a person's future, and back to a possible therapeutic compound. The New York Times Widespread use of LSD sparked a counter-cultural artistic movement in the 1960sThe trippy visuals often associated with LSD flourished in the 1960s as the drug became more widespread. Psychedelic design, defined by its undulating text and graphics, ultimately grew beyond just visuals, spawning psychedelia, a term that includes art, music, and cultural experiences based on psychedelic experiences. Print Magazine How to make LSDLysergic acid diethylamide, often shortened to LSD, comes from ergot, a parasitic fungus that can be found in grains. Chemists rearrange the fungus' chemical structure or the structure of an ergot derivative through complex chemical reactions, transforming it into the hallucinogenic bicycle-shaped LSD crystal. Due to the partially synthetic drug's criminalization, many of the details of modern LSD crafting honed by "underground chemists" are kept secret. DoubleBlind Mag In 1951, a small French town was overtaken by the fungus that ultimately led to LSDDuring the summer of 1951, the French town of Pont-Saint-Esprit appeared to go mad. Hundreds were treated for hallucinations and delirium, with some reporting ongoing hallucinations a month after the LSD-like symptoms appeared. Some historians argue it was a case of ergotism, better known in the Middle Ages as "burning disease" and "St. Anthony's Fire." VICE An LSD scientist's role in a US mind control projectWithin a decade of LSD's discovery, the US government had launched a secret initiative involving hypnosis and hallucinogens. LSD researcher Louis Jolyon West conducted experiments for the CIA's MKUltra project, which focused on the potential of mind control. He later took part in a criminal trial that hinged on testimony whose sourcing was seemingly inspired by MKUltra experiments. This article explores light shed by West's personal archive. The Intercept What does LSD have to do with Bicycle Day?Bicycle Day, generally celebrated on April 19, doesn't have much to do with the two-wheeled, human-powered vehicle as the name would imply. Instead, it's a celebration of the world's first acid trip. On April 19, 1943, Albert Hofmann took an experimental dose of LSD at his lab before trying to return home via bike. This article includes comics from a graphic novel detailing Hofmann's trip. The Guardian Physiological changes to the brain on LSD can be captured via MRIPsychedelics like LSD often take users on novel experiences that can result in lasting shifts in perspective and behavior. See how LSD affects brain activity in this video that details how scientists visually captured the psychedelic's effect for the first time. Quartz Joan Didion's 1967 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem' laid the hippie counterculture bareDidion wrote a detailed account of living alongside hippies in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury area in the 1960s. Beyond their style and politics, Didion uncovered chaos, with one particularly shocking interview of a 5-year-old on LSD. Her stories challenged the movement's message of freedom and utopia in California. The Saturday Evening Post Psychedelics interact with neurotransmitter systems to alter one's perceptionLSD, psilocybin, and MDMA can suppress the brain's default mode network and enhance connectivity. Research shows that, when paired with therapy, psychedelics may help treat mental health conditions, including depression, addiction, and PTSD. TED-Ed US intelligence allegedly pursued more than 600 schemes to assassinate Fidel CastroFrom exploding cigars and poisoned Cohibas to an infected scuba suit and plans to drug a TV studio with LSD, this account catalogs the CIA’s strangest—and consistently unsuccessful—attempts to kill Fidel Castro over decades. NBC News How to avoid a 'bad trip'Michael Pollan, author of "This Is Your Mind On Plants," answers the internet's burning questions about psychedelics. How does LSD work? What is ego death? How are psychedelics used for addiction therapy? Why are psychedelics so frowned upon? Michael answers all these questions and much more. WIRED Psychedelic drugs are having a scientific renaissanceAfter decades of repression, psychedelic research is making a resurgence. Hear from a host of experts in this 20-minute video on what that could mean for the future of mental health. The current science on psychedelics believes LSD can cause a particular brain network to quiet or deactivate. Big Think

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