In the glory days, from 1946 to roughly 1951-52, there were few companies or businessmen who were as influential as Ryan. A shift occurred with the discovery of ADAM. Brigid Tenenbaum discovered a fisherman in Neptune's Bounty, whose hands were crippled by war, had somehow miraculously healed. After further investigation, she discovered the source of the phenomenal regeneration was from a sea slug bite. She tried to interest Ryan with the discovery, but he did not see the importance in her endeavor. After being rejected by multiple science laboratories, she eventually went to Frank Fontaine. He saw the opportunities for profit in ADAM, and invested in Tenenbaum's work, supplying her with the necessary tools to master the substance.