Full Idea
In 1828 Friedrich Wöhler showed [by synthesising urea in the laboratory] that the stuff of life is not a magical, pulsating gel, but ordinary compounds following the laws of chemistry.
Gist of Idea
In 1828, the stuff of life was shown to be ordinary chemistry, not a magic gel
Source
Steven Pinker (The Blank Slate [2002], Ch.3)
Book Reference
Pinker,Steven: 'The Blank Slate' [Penguin 2003], p.30
A Reaction
Wöhler synthesised urea in the laboratory.