Toxic History!

por Adam Blumenberg

Toxic History! is a narrative medicine lecture series where medical experts tell you stories from the history of poison. Human beings have known about poison – substances that harm and even kill– for thousands of years. Poisons have been seen as mysterious, supernatural, and enigmatic. What are these plants, mixtures, and elements with such powerful properties? It is only in the past century that science has begun to demystify ...   ...  Leer más
Historia
Medicina
Escuchar en ...

Episodios del podcast

  • Temporada 1

  • Laboratory X

    Laboratory X

    T01 E29
    20:31

    State-sponsored poisoning and assassination is deeply ingrained in Russian politics. You’ve heard of Alexander Litvinenko, but where was the poison and delivery plan developed? And who were the other victims of Moscow’s poison laboratory?

  • A Stable Head with a Broken Heart

    A Stable Head with a Broken Heart

    T01 E28
    16:48

    Drinkers asked for a bigger and more stable head and the brewers came up with a novel solution. The heaviest drinkers that couldn’t even afford a cup to pour their beer into and see a head started to mysteriously die of heart failure. An investigation begins!

  • The Thalidomide Tragedy and a Path to Safer Drugs

    The Thalidomide Tragedy and a Path to Safer Drugs

    T01 E27
    16:30

    As one of the largest man made disasters in public health history, the discovery and realization of the disastrous effects of thalidomide in pregnant patients has paved a way to safe medication discovery and utilization. From this tragedy in modern medicine led new regulatory pathways, transparency in drug development, and expanded procedures to ensure therapeutic medication supply is not only effective, but safe.

  • Botulinum Antitoxin

    Botulinum Antitoxin

    T01 E26
    17:57

    Our long history of attempting to find a treatment for botulism is a winding road of discovery, setbacks, and the constant challenge of balancing risk and benefit. Through major outbreaks that seized the nation’s attention and the disruption of major wars, however, the spirit of science and humanity prevailed, bringing us a therapy to help us in our ongoing fight.

  • Beyond Bicycle Day: The Story of Albert Hofmann and the Discovery of LSD

    Beyond Bicycle Day: The Story of Albert Hofmann and the Discovery of LSD

    T01 E25
    18:11

    This talk will describe the early career of Albert Hofmann, his accidental discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of LSD-25, his legendary bicycle ride home from work during an LSD trip, and the legacy of his discovery.