Contents
Linus Pauling
Explaining chemical bonds and winning separate Nobel Prizes for chemistry and peace.
The Nature of the Chemical Bond · Protein structures
- Born
- 28 February 1901
- Birthplace
- Portland, USA
- Died
- 19 August 1994
More people
Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling was an American chemist who used quantum theory to explain molecular structure. He also became a prominent campaigner against nuclear weapons testing, linking scientific authority with public activism.
Early life
Oregon childhood
Grew up in Oregon and developed an early interest in chemical experiments.
Engineering to chemistry
Studied chemical engineering at Oregon Agricultural College before doctoral work at Caltech.
Career
- 1920s
Research training
Completed his doctorate and studied new quantum ideas in Europe.
- 1927–1963
Caltech career
Joined the faculty and led research into bonds and biological molecules.
- 1950s–1960s
Nuclear-test campaigning
Organised scientific opposition to atmospheric testing.
- Later years
Research institutes
Pursued further chemical and nutritional research outside Caltech.
Contributions
The Nature of the Chemical Bond
An influential account of how atoms combine.
Protein structures
With colleagues, proposed the alpha helix and other structural patterns.
Nobel Peace Prize
Recognised his campaign against nuclear weapons testing.
Beyond the lab
Partnership
Married Ava Helen Miller, who was also active in peace campaigning.
Contested health claims
His later advocacy of high-dose vitamin C attracted substantial scientific disagreement.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Institutional or specialist reference ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
