Let's not forget that the cutting edge of modern science included alchemy at that time : one of the purposes for which the first thermostat was invented was to

Let's not forget that the cutting edge of modern science included alchemy at that time : one of the purposes for which the first thermostat was invented was to control alchemical fires. Or how the "perpetual motion machine" (by the same guy, Cornelis Drebbel) led to barometers and the discovery of atmospheric pressure. (Also connected to astrology because astrologers were the ones making predictions, including of weather.) EDIT : bonus soundtrack : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy99ywCp3qU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy99ywCp3qU (> it is only a small subset of this song, a fully differentiable song will come in the future)