Humans have long dreamed of a cure-all.
In Greek mythology, the goddess Panacea carried a potion that could heal any disease. Chinese alchemists during the Tang Dynasty sought an “elixir of life” to grant immortality. In the late 19th century, radium, newly discovered by Marie Curie, was hailed as a miracle ingredient — mixed into lotions, candies, even toothpaste — before researchers realized it could also kill.