The Radioactive Power of Advertising

When Pharma Shilled Radiation and People Melted

This is a Carousel guest post by a Twitter anon.

When it comes to radioactive materials, it's a mixed bag. A nuclear power plant can provide energy to half a million homes. A nuclear bomb can obliterate just as many. Radiation is a valuable tool to diagnose and treat disease, but too much exposure to it can lead to death via body horror. In the early 1900's there was a rush to develop and market an assortment of products that touted the health benefits of radioactive decay before anyone truly understood its dangers. This misapplication of scientific discovery entwined the fates of Eben Byers and William J. A. Bailey, ultimately leading to their death and changing public perception of radioactivity forever. This is a story of Radioactive Quackery.

It’s a cautionary tale about what can happen when business interests become enamored with a new scientific discovery and try to exploit it without due diligence. It's also a testament to the power of advertising. Radioactive health tonics becam…