Biography of Linus Carl Pauling:A Life of Scientific Achievement and Advocacy.

 

Picture of Linus Carl Pauling 

Linus Carl Pauling,born on February 28,1901,in

Portland,Oregon,was a towering figure in the world of science and an advocate for global peace.He achieved a remarkable feat as the only individual to have been awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes in different fields.His contributions to both theoretical physical chemistry and his passionate efforts to ban nuclear weapons testing have left an indelible mark on the course of history. 

Early Life and Education:

Pauling was the first of three children born to Herman Pauling,a pharmacist,and Lucy Isabelle Darling Pauling,the daughter of a pharmacist.His early education in Condon and Portland,Oregon,laid the foundation for his remarkable journey.He attended Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University),where he excelled,earning his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering summa cum laude in 1922.It was during his time there that he met Ava Helen Miller, who would later become his wife. 

Afterward,Pauling persuade his Ph.D.at the California Institute of technology (Caltech).Under the direction of Roscoe G.Dickinson,he dove into the universe of crystal structures,using X-rays as a device for his examination.He received his doctorate in 1925 on the basis of a dissertation based on his ground-breaking research on crystal structures.Following a National Research Fellowship,he got a Guggenheim Fellowship to dive into quantum mechanics in Europe,spending the greater part of his time at Arnold Sommerfeld's Institute for Theoretical Physics in Munich,Germany.

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Elucidation of Molecular Structures: 

Returning to Caltech in 1927,Pauling embarked on a long and illustrious career in teaching and research.His central theme was analyzing chemical structures,which he pursued with unwavering dedication.By employing X-ray diffraction,he unraveled the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in significant silicate and sulfide minerals.During a trip to Germany in 1930,he learned about electron diffraction,which he applied to determine the structures of essential substances upon his return. 

Pauling didn't limit himself to experimental methods alone;he also embraced quantum mechanics as a theoretical tool.His contributions extended to the development of valence bond theory,where he proposed that molecules could be described as a resonance combination of other structures.His magnum opus,"The Nature of the Chemical Bond, and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals"(1939), presented a unified summary of his visionary ideas in structural chemistry. 

In the late 1920s,Pauling's collaboration with geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan at Caltech sparked his interest in biological molecules.He conducted groundbreaking magnetic studies on hemoglobin,unraveling the structure of protein.Together with biochemist Alfred Mirsky,he published a pivotal paper in 1936 on general protein structure,explaining how these molecules naturally formed specific configurations. 

Pauling's scientific journey led him to the field of immunochemistry,where he was inspired by Karl Landsteiner,the discoverer of blood types.He developed a theory explaining the specificity of antibody-antigen reactions through the unique folding of the antibody's polypeptide chain. 

Contributions During World War II and Beyond: 

World War II redirected Pauling's focus to practical problems.He worked on developing an artificial substitute for blood serum,valuable for wounded soldiers.Additionally,he contributed to the creation of an oxygen detector useful in submarines and airplanes.Although J.Robert Oppenheimer invited him to lead the chemistry section of the Manhattan Project,Pauling's health, affected by glomerulonephritis, prevented him from accepting the offer.Nonetheless,he received the Presidential Medal for Merit for his wartime contributions. 

Pauling's research into sickle-cell anemia led to a groundbreaking discovery in 1949,identifying the structural defect responsible for the disease,making it the first "molecular disease" to be discovered. While serving as a visiting professor at the University of Oxford in 1948,Pauling returned to the problem of protein structure.He discovered the alpha helix,a cylindrical coil-like configuration within proteins. During this time,he also ventured into the study of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and,in 1953,published his version of DNA's structure, a triple-stranded model.Although James Watson and Francis Crick later published the correct double helix structure,Pauling's contributions to the field were recognized with the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. 

Advocacy for Peace and Global Impact: 

During the 1950s,Pauling and his wife became well-known advocates for nuclear disarmament.They presented an appeal for a nuclear test ban to the United Nations in 1958,signed by thousands of scientists worldwide.His book,"No More War!" (1958),devotedly considered the effects of a nuclear war on humanity. In 1960,he shielded his activities before a legislative subcommittee,even gambling with prison for declining to uncover the names of the people who aided gather signatures.His tireless work for world peace earned him the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize. Pauling's advocacy for peace led to his departure from Caltech in 1963.He joined the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara,California,where his humanitarian efforts thrived.He also continued his scientific pursuits, developing a new model of the atomic nucleus. 

Later Life and Controversy: 

In his later years,Pauling's scientific interests revolved around ascorbic acid (vitamin C).He believed that high doses of vitamin C could help the body fight off diseases.In 1970,one of bestseller book "Vitamin C and the Common Cold," was published.In 1973,scientist Linus Carl Pauling established the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine,focusing on orthomolecular medicine. 

By:FindYourBio Team.