medicine

This special episode of the Weird World Adventures Podcast features a sneak peak into Malorie & Michael’s new book,“Medicine & Mythology: A Chronicle of Gods and Man.” This talk was recorded at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC via the Explorers Club Round Table lecture series, and the team was blown away with how well…

Hi everyone! We are taking a break this week as Michael and Malorie prepare to present “Medicine & Mythology: A Chronicle of Gods and Man” at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC via the Explorers Club lecture series. Stay tuned as we present this talk via our next podcast episode. My name is Malorie Mackey,…

Most museums try to comfort you. Art museums soothe. Science museums inspire. History museums connect. But the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia? It challenges you. You probably won’t find it on a top-10 list of family-friendly attractions in Philly. But if you’re the type of person who’s ever asked, “What does disease actually do to the…

Most of the time, when disease sweeps through a population, there’s a clear cause—bacteria, viruses, contaminated water, poor sanitation, or some combination of these. But every so often, an outbreak occurs that no one can really explain. Some seem psychological, others appear almost supernatural, and a few remain full-fledged medical mysteries to this day. These…

For most of history, medicine was a messy mix of superstition, trial and error, and whatever explanation made the most sense at the time. And for centuries, if something couldn’t be explained—especially if it was strange, sudden, or unsettling—people tended to blame one thing: witchcraft. So, what kinds of diseases and disorders got people burned…

The Black Plague was one of the worst disasters in human history, wiping out nearly half of Europe’s population in just a few years. But beyond the horrifying death toll, it also left behind something equally eerie: some of the creepiest, most unsettling art ever created. The pandemic didn’t just change medieval life—it completely reshaped…

For most of human history, science was more guesswork than fact—especially when it came to the human body. Before modern medicine, people had some seriously bizarre ideas about how our bodies worked. They had even more questionable ways of treating illnesses. Some of these old beliefs are so strange, it’s hard to imagine anyone actually…

Imagine walking into your doctor’s office today and being handed a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of cocaine as part of your treatment plan. It sounds absurd now. But not too long ago, this was actually a common practice. From the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, both cigarettes and cocaine were frequently prescribed…

If you think modern medicine can get a little weird sometimes, wait until you hear about corpse medicine—yes, medicine made from human remains. For centuries, people in Europe (and elsewhere) believed that human bones, blood, and even flesh could cure everything from headaches to epilepsy. It sounds like something straight out of a horror movie,…

In the 18th century, grave robbing wasn’t just some creepy thing people read about in mystery novels—it was a real, thriving business. It might sound insane, but it’s true. People were literally digging up graves to sell the bodies. These so-called “resurrectionists” were in high demand during this time, and they were digging up bodies…

If you ever get the chance to travel back in time, what would be one thing you would be curious to explore? Personally, I would love to see for myself how the health system worked back then. And while I still don’t have access to a time-traveling machine, I do love to do some research…

Imagine waking up one morning, looking in the mirror, and being absolutely convinced that you’re dead. Not just a little sick or depressed, but 100% sure that your body is a lifeless corpse, devoid of blood, organs, or any vital signs. Sounds like something out of a horror movie, right? Well, believe it or not,…

When you think of the Black Death, chances are you picture those eerie plague doctors in long, dark cloaks and those strange, bird-like masks. It’s one of the most haunting images from one of history’s darkest times. But who were these black death doctors? And what was really going on behind those creepy, beaked masks?…

Traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it’s not without its risks. Falling ill or suffering an injury while far from home can be stressful, and navigating foreign healthcare systems can add to the confusion. In some cases, medical care may not meet the expected standard, and this can lead to complications that…

By Freya Reeves When looking at human history, there’s no denying that today’s improved health outcomes and longer life expectancy can be attributed to advancements in science and technology. For example, a previous post highlights the bizarre yet fascinating history of transplants. Although transplantations of human tissue and organs were only mythological or theoretical in ancient…

Today, we’re talking about a topic that isn’t too common for us — psychedelic mushrooms! Yup, I know — this wasn’t the type of trip that you expected to read about today. However, we really believe that they deserve a moment of our attention. These fascinating fungi have captured the human imagination for centuries. They…

If you’re a science nerd with a taste for the bizarre, then medical museums offer a thrilling dive into the strange but fascinating world of medical history. You’ll be able to see the oddest things here – from brain slices, and unusually tall skeletons, to exhibits that chronicle the evolution of medical practices. Medical museums…

The bizarre history of transplants is as rich and complex as it is fascinating, chronicling humanity’s relentless quest to understand and eventually master the art of replacing diseased or damaged organs with healthy ones. From ancient folklore of mystical healers that were once able to renew organs, to actual medical breakthroughs that have changed history…

Have you ever heard about Henrietta Lacks? If the answer is no, you might be surprised to find out that she could potentially be the reason why your life, or the life of someone you love, has been saved. Henrietta, born in 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia, lived a relatively ordinary life. Sadly, that life would…

We love to discuss shocking historical facts on this blog, there’s no doubt in that. However, some of them are so dark and twisted that it comes as no surprise that these events aren’t a part of our regular history books. A great example of that are instruments of pain and punishment. Honestly, I strongly…

It’s no secret that I love sharing weird scientific facts. However, some of them are just weirder than others, especially when they are concerning our own biology. So, let’s enter the eerie but fascinating world of medicine and some of the weirdest and most mind-blowing facts that you could ever imagine. I give you the…

You’ve probably already heard the word “lobotomy”, but do you know what it actually is? Sure, we know that it has to do something with the brain and skull. But what is it really, and what were they done for? Those are the questions that we are going to answer here today. This procedure made…

Throughout the history of humanity, both the ideas of medicine and mythology have been of prime importance in the motivations of human activity. With a want for optimal health and a fear of death, medicine has been at the top of our societal focuses in different ways, despite older medical practices being… less than ideal.…

The Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901, was a time of great progress and innovation in many areas. However, when it came to medicine, the practices and treatments of the time were often gruesome and horrifying by today’s standards. And that’s putting it in a nice way. Honestly, learning about them, it’s not too…

When one thinks of a voodoo doll, they almost immediately go to a dark and evil place thanks to Hollywood, literature, and the masses spreading ideas on topics they don’t quite understand. As with many things, people saw voodoo dolls being utilized in the voodoo (or vodou) religion in the 1800s and immediately had knee-jerk…