James Baquet

    American chemist Linus Pauling (1901-1994) is considered by some to be one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, second only to Albert Einstein. The British biologist Francis Crick, who with American James Watson discovered the nature of DNA, called him the “father of molecular biology.”

    Pauling was born in the northwestern state of Oregon, where as a boy he was known as an enthusiastic reader. After a friend showed him experiments done with a toy chemistry set, young Linus decided to become a chemist. He conducted his own experiments in high school, and even attempted to start a company in his teens. But no one wanted to hire a teenager to test the butter-fat content of milk!

    He left high school without a diploma to begin his chemistry studies at what is now Oregon State University. His high school granted him a diploma 45 years later — after he had received his two Nobel Prizes.

    He earned his way through college working 40 hours a week teaching and doing lab work for his university while also taking classes. In one of his teaching courses he met Ava Miller, who became his wife. They raised three sons, all of whom became scientists, and a daughter, who married one. After graduation, he attended Cal Tech (known to some readers as the university shown on “The Big Bang Theory” TV show) and received his PhD in physical chemistry and mathematical physics, graduating in 1925 summa cum laude.

    The early 20th century was a time when new discoveries — based on new technology — were being made rapidly. Pauling’s main contribution was to explore the nature of chemical bonds, the forces that hold atoms and molecules together. For this work he received a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1954.

    Applications of his work led to advances in treatment of sickle cell anemia and other molecular diseases. Later, he also advocated taking high doses of vitamin C to prevent colds, an idea which remains questionable today.

    Surprisingly, he received a second Nobel in a completely unrelated field. For his peace activism — especially his campaign along with Einstein and other intellectuals to warn of the dangers of developing nuclear weapons — he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

    Linus Pauling died of cancer at the age of 93.

    Vocabulary

    Which word above means:

    1. a person who studies life science

    2. with highest honors

    3. a blood disease

    4. political action

    5. relating to the small particles that make up matter