Have you ever wanted to discover a long-lost magic spell or incantation? Well now is your chance! Experts from the Newberry Library in Chicago discuss how you can read and even help decipher unique medieval manuscripts from the comfort of your own home. They also take a closer look at how understanding magic in the Middle Ages can help us understand our world better.

This week's guests include: Jill Gage, Custodian of the John M. Wing Foundation on the History of Printing and Bibliographer for British Literature and History; Christopher Fletcher, Program Assistant in the Renaissance Center; and Matthew Clarke, Digital Initiatives and Metadata Assistant.

Further reading from Curiosity:

An Introduction to the Middle Ages

This Library Straddles Two Countries

You Can Visit The World's Oldest Library

What Makes A Good Computer Password? (Probably Not What You've Been Told)

Magic Was Medicine To Many Medieval Minds

Resources from the Newberry Library:

Religious Change and Print 1450-1700 project site

The Transcribing Faith resource

Blog post covering the technical details of the project

The Civil War in Letters, a past transcription project

Newberry resources for classrooms

Genealogy at the Newberry Library

Digital exhibitions and research collections on Internet Archive and CARLITo learn more about this topic and many others check out Curiosity.com, download our 5-star iOS or Android app and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and everywhere else podcasts are found so you don't miss an episode!