In 1926, the quiet, small-town of Kittanning, Pennsylvania was descended upon by a mob of salesmen and hucksters selling solutions to a peculiar problem: a mysterious and inexplicable epidemic of baldness. This week, we look at the weird and wacky history of baldness cures, and the even stranger story of a town in need of them.
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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Did you know that Europeans used to believe that sheep grew from Mongolian trees? Have you heard about the misbegotten discovery of a new form of water in the 1960s that set off a cold war arms race? Ever seen the gleaming Las Vegas hotel that accidentally shoots heat rays at poolside guests? The Constant is an audio history of getting things wrong. From ancient science to contemporary blunders, we take you on journeys of misadventure and misapprehension, filling your brain with juicy nuggets of the sometimes comical, sometimes tragical and always fascinating ways people mess things up.

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Science

Many men tried to claim the invention of anesthesia as their own. It didn't work out well for any of them.
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The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
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Comfortably Numb, Part 3

What does every wild west shootout in every movie you've ever seen have to do with the history of anesthesia? You'll find out in the cold open! Then, stick around for the rest.
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Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
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Comfortably Numb, Part 2

The war between humanity and its oldest, archest of enemies: pain.
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Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comfortably Numb, Part 1

He was the most beautiful man in the history of Athens. And he nearly destroyed it.
Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
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Like a Son

Until recently, our understanding of where babies came from was hazy. Which made it easy for a certain class of hucksters to make up crazy stuff about them.
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Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

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