Starting in Egypt, alchemists were the predecessor to the modern chemist. Though they are largely discredited by the scientific community due to the fact that many included religion and the occult to 'fill in the blanks', they made great strides in scientific research, sometimes by accident (i.e. discovery of gunpowder trying to find immortality). After egypt, the next earliest is probably in China, where gunpowder was discovered. Many famous physicists were alchemistds, such as Isaac Newton. Today there are still alchemists, though they practice (usually) practical alchemy. This is the practice of alchemy that actually has a purpose, and the study and reproducion o=f ancient alchemical experiments, usually involving finding out both how the experiments were beleived to work by ancient alchemists, and how they work in terms of current chemists, and whether there is any connection.

A book by Paolo coelho. About a young shepherd boy living in andalusia & he has a dream about treasure & goes traveling to africa in search of the treasure. when all along the treasure was buried under his house.

People who are awesome and full of amazing powers. Some are short and blonde, others tall and have black hair. Each has their own specific name, such as Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, Flame Alchemist Roy Mustang, or Armstrong Alchemist Alex Louis Armstrong. They have the skill to use science to create anything, as long as they give up something of equal value.

Older version of a chemist, usaly combining science and superstition.

Typically defined as a scientist who can allegedly convert any everyday object into gold, the more modern definition is as follows:

Alchemist: The leader, or head man/woman of the under-aged, underground alcohol trade. One who is able to turn money into alcohol through the networking of older non law-abiding citizens who will buy liquor and beer for younger affluent teenagers. Instead of being able to turn objects into gold, he/she can turn money into alcohol aka the gold of the youth.

A nicer way of telling someone who does or says something stupid or illogical, who has the intelligence to know better, that they have done something stupid or illogical, without thinking
Alchemy being the action of doing or saying the illogical thing.

An AWESOME anime about two brothers who have seemed to lost everything but still hold on. They are named Edward Elric, The stubborn, short but older child, and Alphonse Elric,who's soul is kept inside a suit of armour. His body was sacrificed for the attempt of bringing his(and ed's, duh) mother back.
Unfortunatly, there transmutation was a failure, and the price was far to great.
The brothers are now on a search for the legendary 'Philosipher's Stone' which is said to allow you to preform alchemy without the law of equivilant exchange. With this stone, the Elric brothers want to right their wrongs and gain their full bodies back.
The anime series contains 51 episodes.

An anime ( Japanese animation) produced by Square-Enix (best known for the Final Fantasy game series) , Studio BONES (known for Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain among other things) , and Aniplex.

The anime was based off the original manga by Hiromu Arakawa. However the anime and manga (at least after around episode 25 of the anime) take off on completely different storylines as wished by Arakawa herself.

Both follow along the story of two brothers (Edward and Alphonse Elric) who are alchemists, and use it as part of their every day lives. Alchemy in this series follows the law of Touka Koukan (Equivalent Exchange)- you cannot gain without sacrifice. After their father walked out on them and their mother died when they were young, they attempted to bring her back using human transmutation. Unfortunately, it failed, resulting Ed to lose a leg and Al losing his body in exchange for the attempt, and Ed to then lose his arm when he attatched Al's soul to a suit of armor. Winry Rockbell, their childhood friend, help rebuild Edward's limbs using bionics called "automail". It was not long after that Edward decided to become a State Alchemist and workf or the military, in order to gain the valuable research they needed to get their bodies back. Edward became the youngest State Alchemist of all time at the age of twelve when he performed a transmutation without a transmutation circle (a near impossible feat). During their research after Edward joined the military they came across notes of the Philosophers Stone- an alchemy amplifier that easily defies the law of Touka Koukan allowing them to gain without the sacrifice. The series continues with their search for the Stone.

Notes- Contrary to popular belief, it is not magic and has nothing to do with Harry Potter .

The anime was brought over and dubbed into English by FUNimation, a Texas-based studio. They're popular for the dubs of Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho and Fruits Basket. Currently, the series is airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim track.

Hiromu Arakawa's manga was brought over and translated by VIZ. The manga itself is still in progress in both countries, but you can currently find the availible translated volumes wherever you buy manga.

Since the end of the anime series (a full 51 episodes) , a movie ( FullMetal Alchemist The Movie: The Conqueror of Shamballa , can also be found with the titles Hagaren: Conqueror of Shamballa, or even Shamballa's Conqeuror ) , three RPG PS2 video games, one PS2 fighting game, two Gameboy Advance games, a Nintendo DS game, and several animated shorts have been released. You may also find soundtracks, DVDs, and other such merchandise for the show.

As far as anime goes, aside from shows like Evangelion, Gundam Seed, Bleach, Naruto, and InuYasha, FullMetal Alchemist has one of the largest anime fanbases in America.

Other names for the series are: FMA , Hagaren , Hagane no Renkinjutushi , and Full Metal Alchemist (alternate spelling).

A kick ass anime show about the life of two brother, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who, after their mother died, attempted to bring her back to life. Their sacrifice to Equivalent Exchange was not great enough, so the Transmutation took Edwards leg and Alphonses body. Edward then used his right arm for material and transmuted his brotehrs soul to the armor in the corner. They now seek the legendary Philospohers stone, which allows them to pass the laws of equivalence, and get their bodies back to normal