Chemist and two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing a suit and tie with a confident expression. Known for his groundbreaking work in chemical bonding and molecular biology, Pauling’s research laid the foundation for quantum chemistry and he was also a prominent advocate for nuclear disarmament and humanitarian causes.
Chemist and two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing a suit and tie with a confident expression. Known for his groundbreaking work in chemical bonding and molecular biology, Pauling’s research laid the foundation for quantum chemistry and he was also a prominent advocate for nuclear disarmament and humanitarian causes.

Linus Carl Pauling

Historical

Historical

Feb 28, 1901

-

Aug 19, 1994

Chemist and two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling is shown in this black-and-white portrait, wearing a suit and tie with a confident expression. Known for his groundbreaking work in chemical bonding and molecular biology, Pauling’s research laid the foundation for quantum chemistry and he was also a prominent advocate for nuclear disarmament and humanitarian causes.

Linus Carl Pauling

Historical

Historical

Feb 28, 1901

-

Aug 19, 1994

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, and peace activist who significantly contributed to modern chemistry and molecular biology. He was born in Portland, Oregon, and came from a family of a druggist. He had an early interest in science and started doing experiments. He did very well in his early years of learning and got admitted to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University), where he developed an interest in chemical bonds.

He then went on to attend the California Institute of Technology, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1925, with his research interest being in crystallography, where he did his early work that paved the way for his contributions to molecular science. Pauling produced a lot of scientific work in his lifetime. His work in quantum chemistry and molecular biology helped change how the chemical bond was viewed.

In 1939, he came out with the book The Nature of the Chemical Bond, which is said to be one of the twentieth century's most essential books in chemistry. He also put forward some important ideas, like the concept of orbital hybridization and electronegativity, which are crucial in today’s chemistry. His work on the structure of proteins, particularly the alpha helix, was instrumental in developing molecular biology and understanding DNA. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his contribution.

However, besides his scientific achievements, Pauling was also an active peace advocate. In the course of the Cold War, he was an advocate of nuclear disarmament and wrote articles and delivered speeches against nuclear testing. His persistent efforts culminated in the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. For his activism, Pauling was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 and thus became the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. He received political backlash during the Red Scare but never wavered in his commitment to science and peace.

In his later years, Pauling concentrated on health and medicine, especially administering high doses of Vitamin C to prevent diseases, including cancer. Despite the controversy, his work in orthomolecular medicine gained the interest of people who believed in his theories and those who doubted them. Pauling’s later works did not diminish his fame; he remained one of the most famous scientists of the twentieth century. He passed on in 1994 due to prostate cancer, but his contributions to chemistry, molecular biology, and peace activism are still felt.

Quotes

"Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life."

"The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas."

"Science is the search for truth; it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality."

"I believe that as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."

"Let us work together to rid the world of the threat of nuclear destruction."

"The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away."

"Only a few of the thousands of diseases that afflict us are curable."

"If you want to have good ideas, you must have many ideas."

"Every aspect of the world today—even politics and international relations—is affected by chemistry."

"Life comes from physical processes, not mystical forces."

"You can’t have science without philosophy."

"I am an optimist. It does not seem to be much use being anything else."

"Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error."

"The greatest value of science is in its application to the general welfare."

"I think that people who are suffering, who have a lot of pain, should be given some sort of relief."

FAQ

What can be considered as the significant achievements of Linus Pauling in chemistry?

Pauling came up with the theories of orbital hybridization and electronegativity and played a significant role in forming the chemical bond theory.

What did Linus Pauling do to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his work on banning nuclear weapons testing and disarmament.

What did Linus Pauling do in the discovery of DNA?

Pauling’s work on protein structures, especially the alpha helix, provided the foundation for future work on the DNA structure of the double helix.

What was so contentious about Pauling’s vitamin C research?

Pauling pressed vitamin C to prevent diseases, but this was not widely supported scientifically.

What school did Linus Pauling attend?

Pauling attended Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) for his undergraduate education and received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

How many Nobel prizes did Linus Pauling receive?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

What is orbital hybridization?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

In what way does Pauling’s work on electronegativity have importance?

Pauling came up with the concept of electronegativity, which measures the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a covalent bond. This is a very important factor in molecular interactions.

What books did Linus Pauling write?

Some of Pauling's most famous works are The Nature of the Chemical Bond and Vitamin C and the Common Cold.

What has Linus Pauling given to the scientific community?

Pauling's contributions to quantum chemistry, molecular biology, and peace have remained relevant to this day in the scientific community and society.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, and peace activist who significantly contributed to modern chemistry and molecular biology. He was born in Portland, Oregon, and came from a family of a druggist. He had an early interest in science and started doing experiments. He did very well in his early years of learning and got admitted to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University), where he developed an interest in chemical bonds.

He then went on to attend the California Institute of Technology, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1925, with his research interest being in crystallography, where he did his early work that paved the way for his contributions to molecular science. Pauling produced a lot of scientific work in his lifetime. His work in quantum chemistry and molecular biology helped change how the chemical bond was viewed.

In 1939, he came out with the book The Nature of the Chemical Bond, which is said to be one of the twentieth century's most essential books in chemistry. He also put forward some important ideas, like the concept of orbital hybridization and electronegativity, which are crucial in today’s chemistry. His work on the structure of proteins, particularly the alpha helix, was instrumental in developing molecular biology and understanding DNA. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his contribution.

However, besides his scientific achievements, Pauling was also an active peace advocate. In the course of the Cold War, he was an advocate of nuclear disarmament and wrote articles and delivered speeches against nuclear testing. His persistent efforts culminated in the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. For his activism, Pauling was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 and thus became the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. He received political backlash during the Red Scare but never wavered in his commitment to science and peace.

In his later years, Pauling concentrated on health and medicine, especially administering high doses of Vitamin C to prevent diseases, including cancer. Despite the controversy, his work in orthomolecular medicine gained the interest of people who believed in his theories and those who doubted them. Pauling’s later works did not diminish his fame; he remained one of the most famous scientists of the twentieth century. He passed on in 1994 due to prostate cancer, but his contributions to chemistry, molecular biology, and peace activism are still felt.

Quotes

"Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life."

"The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas."

"Science is the search for truth; it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality."

"I believe that as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."

"Let us work together to rid the world of the threat of nuclear destruction."

"The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away."

"Only a few of the thousands of diseases that afflict us are curable."

"If you want to have good ideas, you must have many ideas."

"Every aspect of the world today—even politics and international relations—is affected by chemistry."

"Life comes from physical processes, not mystical forces."

"You can’t have science without philosophy."

"I am an optimist. It does not seem to be much use being anything else."

"Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error."

"The greatest value of science is in its application to the general welfare."

"I think that people who are suffering, who have a lot of pain, should be given some sort of relief."

FAQ

What can be considered as the significant achievements of Linus Pauling in chemistry?

Pauling came up with the theories of orbital hybridization and electronegativity and played a significant role in forming the chemical bond theory.

What did Linus Pauling do to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his work on banning nuclear weapons testing and disarmament.

What did Linus Pauling do in the discovery of DNA?

Pauling’s work on protein structures, especially the alpha helix, provided the foundation for future work on the DNA structure of the double helix.

What was so contentious about Pauling’s vitamin C research?

Pauling pressed vitamin C to prevent diseases, but this was not widely supported scientifically.

What school did Linus Pauling attend?

Pauling attended Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) for his undergraduate education and received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

How many Nobel prizes did Linus Pauling receive?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

What is orbital hybridization?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

In what way does Pauling’s work on electronegativity have importance?

Pauling came up with the concept of electronegativity, which measures the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a covalent bond. This is a very important factor in molecular interactions.

What books did Linus Pauling write?

Some of Pauling's most famous works are The Nature of the Chemical Bond and Vitamin C and the Common Cold.

What has Linus Pauling given to the scientific community?

Pauling's contributions to quantum chemistry, molecular biology, and peace have remained relevant to this day in the scientific community and society.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, and peace activist who significantly contributed to modern chemistry and molecular biology. He was born in Portland, Oregon, and came from a family of a druggist. He had an early interest in science and started doing experiments. He did very well in his early years of learning and got admitted to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University), where he developed an interest in chemical bonds.

He then went on to attend the California Institute of Technology, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1925, with his research interest being in crystallography, where he did his early work that paved the way for his contributions to molecular science. Pauling produced a lot of scientific work in his lifetime. His work in quantum chemistry and molecular biology helped change how the chemical bond was viewed.

In 1939, he came out with the book The Nature of the Chemical Bond, which is said to be one of the twentieth century's most essential books in chemistry. He also put forward some important ideas, like the concept of orbital hybridization and electronegativity, which are crucial in today’s chemistry. His work on the structure of proteins, particularly the alpha helix, was instrumental in developing molecular biology and understanding DNA. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his contribution.

However, besides his scientific achievements, Pauling was also an active peace advocate. In the course of the Cold War, he was an advocate of nuclear disarmament and wrote articles and delivered speeches against nuclear testing. His persistent efforts culminated in the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. For his activism, Pauling was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 and thus became the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. He received political backlash during the Red Scare but never wavered in his commitment to science and peace.

In his later years, Pauling concentrated on health and medicine, especially administering high doses of Vitamin C to prevent diseases, including cancer. Despite the controversy, his work in orthomolecular medicine gained the interest of people who believed in his theories and those who doubted them. Pauling’s later works did not diminish his fame; he remained one of the most famous scientists of the twentieth century. He passed on in 1994 due to prostate cancer, but his contributions to chemistry, molecular biology, and peace activism are still felt.

Quotes

"Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life."

"The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas."

"Science is the search for truth; it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality."

"I believe that as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."

"Let us work together to rid the world of the threat of nuclear destruction."

"The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away."

"Only a few of the thousands of diseases that afflict us are curable."

"If you want to have good ideas, you must have many ideas."

"Every aspect of the world today—even politics and international relations—is affected by chemistry."

"Life comes from physical processes, not mystical forces."

"You can’t have science without philosophy."

"I am an optimist. It does not seem to be much use being anything else."

"Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error."

"The greatest value of science is in its application to the general welfare."

"I think that people who are suffering, who have a lot of pain, should be given some sort of relief."

FAQ

What can be considered as the significant achievements of Linus Pauling in chemistry?

Pauling came up with the theories of orbital hybridization and electronegativity and played a significant role in forming the chemical bond theory.

What did Linus Pauling do to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his work on banning nuclear weapons testing and disarmament.

What did Linus Pauling do in the discovery of DNA?

Pauling’s work on protein structures, especially the alpha helix, provided the foundation for future work on the DNA structure of the double helix.

What was so contentious about Pauling’s vitamin C research?

Pauling pressed vitamin C to prevent diseases, but this was not widely supported scientifically.

What school did Linus Pauling attend?

Pauling attended Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) for his undergraduate education and received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

How many Nobel prizes did Linus Pauling receive?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

What is orbital hybridization?

Orbital hybridization is a theory developed by Pauling to explain the formation of new hybrid orbitals from atomic orbitals and demonstrate the geometry of molecular bonding.

In what way does Pauling’s work on electronegativity have importance?

Pauling came up with the concept of electronegativity, which measures the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a covalent bond. This is a very important factor in molecular interactions.

What books did Linus Pauling write?

Some of Pauling's most famous works are The Nature of the Chemical Bond and Vitamin C and the Common Cold.

What has Linus Pauling given to the scientific community?

Pauling's contributions to quantum chemistry, molecular biology, and peace have remained relevant to this day in the scientific community and society.

Life and achievements

Early life

Linus Carl Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 28, 1901. His father was a pharmacist named Herman Pauling, and his mother was Belle Darling Pauling, a homemaker. Linus Pauling’s father died in 1910 when Linus was only nine years old, which made him have to work to support his mother and siblings, thus making him a very independent person. Pauling’s interest in science started when he was a child, and he constructed his first chemistry laboratory in the basement of his house.

In his childhood, he performed chemical experiments that he could either get or prepare from other sources, which showed his interest in science. Pauling was a bright student in his academic pursuits, which was seen in his early years of learning. He did his first three years of high school at Washington High School but dropped out and did not graduate, finding many of his classes uninteresting and unrelated to his interests.

He joined Oregon Agricultural College when he was 16 years old. It was here that his love for chemistry was well nurtured. Influenced by the teachers, he continued his passion for molecular structures and chemical bonds, which formed the basis of his future research. Pauling completed his BSc in 1922 and then proceeded to do his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology, which he would attend for most of his academic career. His doctoral thesis was on the crystallographic studies of crystals by X-ray diffraction, which can be considered a precursor to his future work in molecular biology and quantum chemistry.

Legacy

The contributions of Linus Pauling in science, medicine, and social activism are still felt to this day. As a quantum chemist, molecular biologist, and a leading figure promoting the culture of peace in the twentieth century, Pauling is one of the most famous scientists. His research on the chemical bond is considered one of the most influential works in chemistry and is still used in the current curriculum. Pauling’s work on the protein structures, such as the alpha-helix, helped identify the DNA double helix by James Watson and Francis Crick.

As Francis Crick himself admitted, Pauling was the ‘father of molecular biology’ because he was one of the first to understand the concept of molecular structures. Pauling was an outstanding scientist who paid much attention to humanitarian issues. He was a staunch supporter of the disarmament of nuclear weapons and fought for the ban of atmospheric nuclear tests in the middle of the Cold War. His efforts in the fight against atomic fallout earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

This, together with his Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954, made Pauling the only man to have both unshared Nobel Prizes. Pauling’s political activism came under scrutiny during the McCarthy era. Still, he did not waver, and his efforts towards promoting peace have been a source of inspiration to many peace activists. His further research on orthomolecular medicine, including his somewhat questionable theories about the positive effects of large doses of vitamin C, is still a subject of discussion.

Although many of his ideas were considered heresies by the members of the medical profession, Pauling’s ideas about health and nutrition are still being investigated regarding the use of vitamins in the prevention and cure of diseases. His work was published as a book titled Vitamin C and the Common Cold, which made people aware of his research in nutritional science.

The legacy of Pauling is further continued by the institutions and honours named in his honour. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, home to his papers, is still conducting research in nutrition and health. The Linus Pauling Science Center at Oregon State University, constructed in 2011 to focus on chemistry and health research, is a testament to his contribution to society through his research. Pauling’s impact, however, is not limited to science and health, as he was also a man of principles who believed in applying science for the good of society.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Milestone moments

Feb 1, 1925

Ph.D. Completion at California Institute of Technology
Linus Pauling received his Ph.D. in chemistry, and his thesis work was on crystal structures with the help of X-ray diffraction.
His doctoral thesis provided the basis for his future significant contributions to quantum chemistry and the investigation of molecular structures.
Pauling’s Ph.D. work focused on molecular science, making him one of the pioneers in crystallography.
This period can be considered the start of his collaboration with Caltech, his primary institution for many years.
His dissertation was revolutionary work in atomic structures, paving the way for his future achievements.

Jul 1, 1939

Publication of The Nature of the Chemical Bond
Pauling’s magnum opus, The Nature of the Chemical Bond, revolutionized chemistry by describing molecular geometry and the hybridization theory.
This book was to become a bible for generations of chemists and made Pauling one of the most influential chemists of the age.
In this work, Pauling explained the quantum mechanics of chemistry to explain how atoms combine to form molecules.
His ideas on hybrid orbitals and electronegativity scales were to become standard in the chemist’s armory, making the book one of the most essential chemistry texts of the twentieth century.

Aug 12, 1951

The Discovery of the Alpha Helix Structure of Proteins
His research helped identify the alpha helix, a vital protein structure later used to study DNA.
This discovery was crucial in molecular biology and biochemistry and paved the way for Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA structure.
Pauling’s contribution to studying proteins was revolutionary in understanding how biological macromolecules work structurally.
His work on the structure of proteins and the application of X-ray diffraction in determining the structure of biological macromolecules were remarkable.

Oct 1, 1954

Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Pauling received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his studies of the structure of chemical bonds.
He is also well known for his contribution to quantum chemistry, where he developed new ways of understanding atomic and molecular interactions.
This honor further cemented Pauling’s position as a leading chemist and acknowledged his work advancing our knowledge of molecular structures.
His work on chemical bonds greatly affected chemistry and knowledge of molecular structures.

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