Poisoned by Paleontology: A Blowgun Poison Mystery

Poisoned by Paleontology: A Blowgun Poison Mystery

March 31, 2026 · 22 min · Season 4 · Episode 6

About this episode

This episode explores a powerful toxin used in medicine and a potential state-sponsored assassination involving a political prisoner.

Today's episode is about a toxin so powerful that a little smeared on the tip of a blowgun arrow is enough to silence every muscle in your body, including your diaphragm, stopping your breathing. How did a poison like this become a commonly used drug in modern medicine? We'll also go inside a Siberian prison cell where one of the most high-profile political prisoners on the planet collapses and dies. Was this a state-sponsored assassination using a poison from the rainforest? List...

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