Join us for an engaging evening where professors, experts, and storytellers bring their thought-provoking lectures to your favorite bar in Midtown Manhattan!

Hosted by the Lectures on Tap team.

🗓️ Date: August 7th, 2025

🕡 Time: 6:30 PM

📍 Location: Midtown Manhattan (exact address provided in confirmation email)

📚 Lecture: “Bottled Death: The Rise and Fall of Radithor”

🎤 Speaker: Professor, Dr. Adam Blumenberg

This captivating lecture delves into the history of Radithor, a popular radioactive water tonic sold in the early 20th century and marketed as a miraculous cure-all. However, it was later revealed to be perilously toxic. Dr. Adam Blumenberg will highlight the infamous case of industrialist and athlete Eben Byers, whose tragic death from radium poisoning captured national attention and raised alarm about the dangers of such substances.

As we explore the consequences of radium toxicity—ranging from bone necrosis to cancer—we’ll examine how public outrage over these health crises sparked significant changes in health policy. This movement led to stricter regulations on radioactive materials and played a vital role in shaping the foundation of consumer protection in medicine, including the early oversight functions of the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Adam Blumenberg is an associate professor at Columbia University Medical Center and is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. He also hosts the “Toxic History!” podcast and has made significant contributions to medical education.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the past and its impact on today’s health policies!

Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌

Lectures on Tap - Bottled Death: The Rise and Fall of Radioactive Radithor