Linus Pauling

Linus Pauling
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Name	Linus Pauling
Caption	Pauling in 1954
Birth date	28 February 1901
Birth place	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Death date	19 August 1994
Death place	Big Sur, California, U.S.
Fields	Quantum chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular biology
Alma mater	Oregon State University, California Institute of Technology
Doctoral advisor	Roscoe G. Dickinson
Known for	Chemical bond, Nature of the Chemical Bond, Protein structure, Molecular disease, Vitamin C
Prizes	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1954), Nobel Peace Prize (1962), Lenin Peace Prize (1970), National Medal of Science (1974)
Spouse	Ava Helen Miller (m. 1923)

Linus Pauling was an American scientist, peace activist, and author, widely regarded as one of the most influential chemists of the 20th century. He made foundational contributions to quantum chemistry, molecular biology, and organic chemistry, pioneering the application of quantum mechanics to chemical problems. Pauling is one of only four individuals to have won multiple Nobel Prizes, receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962, and remains the only person to have been awarded two unshared Nobels.

Early life and education

He was born in Portland, Oregon, and developed an early interest in chemistry after visiting the laboratory of a friend. After his father's death, his family faced financial hardship, but Pauling excelled academically, earning a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University. He then pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology under the supervision of Roscoe G. Dickinson, where he was exposed to the emerging field of X-ray crystallography. His doctoral work involved using this technique to determine the structures of crystalline minerals, laying the groundwork for his future research on molecular architecture.

Scientific contributions

Pauling's most celebrated scientific work centered on the nature of the chemical bond. His 1939 textbook, The Nature of the Chemical Bond, synthesized concepts from quantum mechanics and empirical chemistry, introducing influential ideas like electronegativity, hybridization, and resonance. He applied these principles to elucidate the structures of complex biological molecules, correctly proposing the alpha helix and beta sheet as fundamental motifs in protein structure. Later, he identified sickle cell anemia as a "molecular disease" caused by a single amino acid substitution in hemoglobin, a discovery that bridged genetics and biochemistry. In his later career, he controversially advocated for high-dose vitamin C as a treatment for the common cold and cancer.

Political activism and later life

Following World War II and the development of the atomic bomb, Pauling became an outspoken critic of nuclear weapons testing. He authored the 1958 petition, presented to the United Nations, which was signed by over 11,000 scientists warning of the dangers of radioactive fallout. His activism, during the height of the Cold War and McCarthyism, led to significant political scrutiny, including a subpoena from the House Un-American Activities Committee and the denial of a passport by the U.S. State Department. His efforts were instrumental in the eventual ratification of the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. In 1969, he left Caltech and joined the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions before founding the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in Palo Alto.

Awards and honors

His scientific achievements were recognized with the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research into the chemical bond and its application to elucidating the structure of complex substances. In 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign against atmospheric nuclear testing, having been nominated by figures including Albert Schweitzer. Among his many other accolades are the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union in 1970, the National Medal of Science awarded by President Gerald Ford in 1974, and the Lomonosov Gold Medal from the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1977. He was also elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.

Personal life and legacy

He married Ava Helen Miller in 1923, a partnership that lasted until her death in 1981 and was deeply influential on his political views; they had four children. Pauling remained scientifically active and intellectually combative until his death from prostate cancer at his ranch in Big Sur, California. His legacy is complex, encompassing towering scientific insights that shaped modern chemistry and biology, a courageous, Nobel-winning advocacy for peace, and later, controversial forays into orthomolecular medicine. Institutions like the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University continue to promote his interdisciplinary approach to health science.

Category:American chemists Category:Nobel Peace Prize laureates Category:American anti–nuclear weapons activists