On April 16, 1943, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann made a remarkable discovery when he accidentally absorbed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) through his skin while working in his laboratory. As he recounted later, this unexpected exposure led him to experience a vivid and surreal vision, describing it as “an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colours.”
Intrigued by this experience, Hofmann chose to intentionally ingest LSD three days later to explore its effects further. His research had initially focused on creating a stimulant for the respiratory and circulatory systems, drawing insights from various pharmaceutical plants and fungi. This serendipitous encounter with LSD would mark a pivotal moment in both his career and the broader field of psychoactive substances.