Half Lives: The Unlikely History of Radium

The book "Half Lives" explores the shocking history of the world's toxic love affair with radium, from its rise as a desirable item to its role as a supposed cure-all in everyday 20th-century life. It reveals the stories of those previously dismissed as quacks and fools and examines the interplay between science and popular culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Icon Books Ltd

Half Lives: Shining a Light on the Shocking History of the World's Toxic Love Affair with Radium

Radium, a deadly substance that has captivated the world for centuries, is the subject of Hallie Rubenhold's captivating book, "Half Lives." This unsettling, fascinating, informative, and truly frightening exploration delves into the shocking history of the world's toxic love affair with radium.

Author of "The Five," Hallie Rubenhold has masterfully woven a tale that is both fascinating and well-told. The story of this supposed cure-all in everyday 20th-century life is a testament to the human desire for innovation and progress.

Lucy Jane Santos, a historian, presents the surprising history of radium in everyday life. Among all the radioactive elements discovered at the end of the 19th century, radium stood out as the focus of both public fascination and entrepreneurial zeal.

"Half Lives" takes readers on a journey through the element's ascent as a desirable item, from being a present for a queen to a prize in a treasure hunt, and even a glow-in-the-dark dance costume. However, it is in its role as a supposed cure-all in everyday 20th-century life that radium truly shines.

Medical practitioners and business people, both reputable and otherwise, devised ingenious ways of commodifying this new wonder element. Enthusiastic customers welcomed their radioactive wares into their homes, believing in the promises of radium's healing powers.

Historian Lucy Jane Santos, herself the proud owner of a formidable collection of radium beauty treatments, delves into the stories of these products and details the gradual downfall and discredit of the radium industry through the eyes of the people who bought, sold, and eventually came to fear the once-fetishized substance.

Through her unique examination of the interplay between science and popular culture, Santos reveals a new history of radium. She brings to life the stories of those previously dismissed as quacks and fools, highlighting their contributions to the understanding and use of radium.

"Half Lives" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of science, technology, and popular culture. It sheds light on the darker side of human ambition and the consequences of pursuing scientific advancements without proper regard for safety and ethics.

Weight: 228g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785787188