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Linus Pauling, 1901-1994
The only recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes -- for chemistry and peace -- Linus Pauling both advanced science and addressed its social implications. In the 1930s and 1940s, Pauling applied quantum mechanics to chemistry, inspiring new discoveries about molecular structures and leading to his 1954 Nobel Prize. Pauling's resistance to atomic weapons fueled his publication of "No More War!" in 1958 and earned him a second Nobel in 1962. A year later, the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty was implemented.
Alice Neel's informal portrait depicts the scientist outside of the laboratory to indicate the breadth of his commitments. Pauling later explained, "I could have accomplished a lot ore science from 1945 to 1965. I decided ... I ought to get scientists working for world peace... Scientists have an obligation to help fellow citizens make the right decision."
Alice Neel, 1969 |