True Crime & Toxicology

Taking a break from the true crime, and talking about how I got into forensics today! I shared my experience from when I first got interested in forensics, through undergrad and grad school, and to my current position as a forensic scientist. There's also tips and advice throughout the episode - hope they help! Want to support the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In 1996, Dr. Karen Wetterhahn had a lab accident while working on a research experiment. Within months, she was in the hospital dealing with mercury poisoning. What happened? What is mercury and why is it so dangerous? Learn more in this week's episode! Want to support the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In 1980, one man seemingly came back from the dead. Did he prove that zombies are real? Learn the full story and the poison that may have caused it in today's episode! ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In 1978, a man was injured while standing at the bus stop, and ended up dying of a heart attack 4 days later. What happened, and why is this incident referred to as the Umbrella Murder?? You'll learn all that, plus the science behind the deadly toxin called ricin in this episode. ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

This week I’m bringing you a story from the 1600s about a woman who disguised arsenic as a cosmetic, and used it to murder over 600 people. How did she get away with it for 20 years? What is arsenic anyway? Learn the answers to those questions and more in today's episode.  ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In 1994, a high school student stole a chemical from her chemistry class, brought it home, and slipped it in her dad's food. Later that night, her dad Steven Robards, died of a heart attack. Why did she do this? And what is barium? Listen to this week's episode to learn the answers to these questions and more. ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In 2004, a Florida couple went to a clinic for Botox injections, and soon ended up paralyzed in a hospital. Later, the doctor who gave the injections and his girlfriend also ended up paralyzed. What happened? In this episode, you'll hear the full botox-gone-wrong story and learn the science behind botox: what it is, where the name comes from, and how it affects our bodies. ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

In the 1800s, there was a doctor who murdered multiple people on two continents using a plant-derived drug called strychnine. How did he get away with it for so long? What is strychnine, and is it still around today? Listen to this week's episode to learn the answers to these questions and more. ---- Like the show? Leave me a tip! ko-fi.com/themanicuredscientist

New podcast alert!  Hey friends! I'm turning my true crime and toxicology YouTube series into a podcast, starting August 10th! Here's a quick trailer letting you know what you can expect from the show. If you have any suggestions of stories you'd like to hear or poisons you'd like to learn about, you can message me on Instagram @themanicuredscientist or send me an email at [email protected].