/oss/taxonomy/term/2548/all en /oss/article/history-you-asked/what-borax <p>One day a craftsman showed up in the court of Tiberius, Emperor of Rome (14AD to 37AD), to present the ruler with a beautiful transparent glass vase. Just as he was about to hand the vessel to Tiberius, the man let the vessel slip through his fingers. Everyone jumped, expecting a crash and flying glass. Roman glass after all had a history of fragility. But the glass did not break! Tiberius was very impressed and asked the glassmaker for the secret of the unbreakable glass. The craftsman was unwilling to divulge his method and boasted that he alone would be the keeper of the secret.</p> Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:02:37 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1825 at /oss