45: Superseded Science, why is TB Still a Thing, and the Radium Girls
Aug 17, 2023
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Tom, Ella, and Caroline discuss scientific theories before modern science, the persistence of tuberculosis, and the legacy of the Radium Girls. Topics include pseudoscience, scientific glow up, preformationism, tiny growing dinosaur gametes, miasma, spontaneous generation, the expanding earth, and the global impact of tuberculosis. They also explore the dangerous allure of radium, the consequences of radithor consumption, and playful banter.
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is still a global health concern, causing millions of deaths each year and posing challenges due to antibiotic resistance.
Superseded theories in science highlight the ever-evolving nature of scientific knowledge and the importance of critical thinking.
The Radium Girls' fight for justice paved the way for workers' rights and improved health and safety standards.
These examples emphasize the importance of questioning established beliefs, prioritizing evidence, ethics, and the well-being of all in scientific endeavors.
Deep dives
The Persistence of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a disease that mainly affects the lungs but can also impact other systems in the body. It has been present for thousands of years and peaked in the 19th and 20th centuries during industrialization. TB was romanticized in literature and considered desirable by some, but it primarily affected the urban working class. Today, TB is still a global health concern, causing millions of deaths each year, particularly in developing countries. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, but the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge to its eradication.
Tuberculosis and Resistance
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It has been present for thousands of years and reached its peak in the 19th and 20th centuries during industrialization. TB was romanticized in literature, but it primarily affected the urban working class. Today, TB is still a global health concern, causing millions of deaths each year. The rise of antibiotic resistance, including multi-drug resistant and extremely drug-resistant strains, poses significant challenges to its treatment and eradication.
The Challenge of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an ancient bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It reached its peak in the 19th and 20th centuries during industrialization, particularly impacting the urban working class. Despite being treatable with antibiotics, TB remains a significant global health threat, causing millions of deaths each year. The rise of antibiotic resistance, including multi-drug resistant and extremely drug-resistant strains, adds to the challenge of tackling TB and its eradication.
Tuberculosis: A Lingering Health Concern
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an ancient bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It reached its peak during industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly impacting the urban working class. Although TB is treatable with antibiotics, it remains a significant global health concern leading to millions of deaths each year. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains further complicates efforts to address and eradicate this persistent disease.
Superseded Theories in Science
We explored the concept of superseded theories in science, ranging from the amusingly incorrect beliefs about amber to the surprising idea of an expanding Earth. These theories highlight the ever-evolving nature of scientific knowledge and the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning.
The Continued Challenges of Tuberculosis
We discussed the ongoing challenges posed by tuberculosis (TB) and its relevance in modern times. Diving into the biology of TB and its link to alcoholism, we explored the need for continued efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and mitigate the devastating impact of this disease.
The Tragic Story of the Radium Girls
We delved into the harrowing tale of the Radium Girls, who were workers in the early 20th century painting watch dials with radium-based paint. Unbeknownst to them, they were ingesting deadly levels of radiation, leading to severe illness and death. Despite their struggles, their fight for justice paved the way for workers' rights and improved health and safety standards.
Lessons Learned from Superseded Theories and Tragic Histories
Through these examples, we gained insights into the importance of questioning established beliefs, the dangers of unchecked practices, and the resilience and determination of individuals in the face of adversity. These stories serve as reminders to prioritize evidence, ethics, and the well-being of all in scientific endeavors.
What previous scientific theories would turn into the ones we know today, and what can they teach us? Why is Tuberculosis still a thing in the modern age? And who were the Radium girls, and what did they give us?
Oh Fuck Tom and Ella and Caroline, theory vs pseudoscience, scientific glow up, the LLE game show theme, any time Tom isn’t talking he’s doing a little dance, preformationism, tiny growing dinosaur gametes, miasma, spontaneous generation, the amber effect, Darwin couldn’t sleep thinking about geology, what a nerd, the expanding earth, every theory can be explained by little expanding dinosaurs, Marie Tharp’s “Girl Talk, revisiting Vulcan, planet mnemonics, Ella snipes the answer, an actual Einstein name drop, Einstein was so excited to think he could solve the mercury problem, my topic superseded yours, what is Tuberculosis, TB is at least 9,000 years old, when TB was romanticized (by the wealthy), “how interesting he looks in dying”, TOM STOP DANCING!, people think this is a disease of old but it’s not, antibacterial resistance could be as big a threat as climate change, 1 Billion people have latent TB, the real enemy once again is capitalism, novel’s rapid test, there’s no Return on Investment with TB research, unless you patent the cure, J&J COULD SELL IT FOR A QUARTER AND STILL MAKE A PROFIT, only 40,000 people have received bedaquiline in 11 years, evergreening a patent is Sinister, amnesty period of science in the misc topic, even with nobel prizes scientists didn't realize how dangerous this stuff was, the Curies are buried in led coffins, Curie’s legacy is “literally untouchable”, Will It Radium? Radium Schokolade, it’s rejuvenating! radium quackery, radium silk, the government said it MUST have radium if you’re advertising it does, alpha radiation mostly hurts when ingested, glowing radium dust dresses, surely THIS is how they got poisoned right?? touching the brush to the lips was a cost saving measure, radiation poisoning sucks, the US radium corp claimed the women were just suffering from syphilis, hiding scientific investigations, the radium girls fight against capitalism and make labor history, radium girls lead to an international nuclear treaty, but they still sold radium tonics! Byers’ photograph helped ban radithol, the podcast make you old.
