ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Alexander Shulgin

Alexander Shulgin was a very smart scientist who really liked studying different chemicals and how they work in our brains. He liked doing experiments to learn more about these chemicals, which are called psychoactive compounds.

Psychoactive compounds are like magic potions that can make our brains feel different things. Some can make us happy, some can make us feel calm, and some can make us see things that aren't really there.

Alexander Shulgin discovered lots of new psychoactive compounds that no one had ever seen before. He found out what they do to our brains and wrote all the information down in books. People then started using his books to learn about these compounds and even make them themselves.

Shulgin's work is important because it helps scientists understand how different chemicals affect our brains and can even help find new treatments for some medical problems. But it's also important to remember that playing with chemicals can be dangerous, so it's always best to leave that to the experts.