In the final chapter of
I explain how the deadliest animals on the planet may hold the power to save lives. Though it might seem counterintuitive, toxins aren't really that different from cures—both specifically target some pathway in the body that is going wrong. The therapeutic use of venoms traces back centuries to some of our oldest civilizations. That medical legacy is still with us, as the serpent wound around a staff in the symbol of the medical profession. You can read an edited excerpt from that chapter of my book in The Wall Street Journal. But just this week, National Geographic came out with a nice little video on the topic, explaining the basics in less than two minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXT1G-cLYQ4 If you want to know more about the world's most notorious animals and how their chemical cocktails affect us, be sure to pre-order your copy of Venomous today!
