Linus Pauling Day, February 28, 2024

Linus Pauling (28.Feb.1901-1994) was an influential American chemist, biochemist, and peace activist, renowned for his groundbreaking work in quantum chemistry and molecular biology. He is one of few individuals to have received 2 Nobel Prizes in different fields, and the only one to receive 2 unshared Nobel prizes: Chemistry (1954, nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances) and Peace (1962, efforts against nuclear weapons testing). Pauling's scientific contributions include the concept of electronegativity, the nature of the chemical bond, and the alpha helix structure of proteins. He was a prolific writer, 1,200+ papers and books, including "The Nature of the Chemical Bond", one of the most influential chemistry books ever published. Racy: Theoretical physicist Robert Oppenheimer attempted a rendezvous with Pauling's wife in Mexico. She refused and it ruined their friendship. Pauling was a controversial figure, partly due to his unsupported claim that high doses of Vitamin C are a cure for the common cold and cancer. This is called "Nobel disease" or "Nobelitis", the phenomena when some Nobel Prize laureates, often in their later years, adopt unconventional or scientifically questionable beliefs. He was a critic of the Vietnam War and advocate for nuclear disarmament, giving him a rare blend of brilliance in both science and social activism. https://bit.ly/3Ih9XVs Art&Text🫶ChatGPT.