Essay Example on Linus Pauling: Nobel Laureate Who Changed Lives

Linus Pauling is the most outstanding chemist of all time. He gained massive success by accomplishing the undoable, winning two Nobel prizes (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi, 2001). Through Linus, a new field in Biology was invented to deal with the study of molecules. Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling made a significant impact on the study of orthomolecular medicine and has saved millions of lives, especially Americans who are suffering from sickle cell anemia.

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Linus's birth took place in Portland, specifically Oregon, on February 28th, 1901. He was the firstborn to Herman and Lucy, who later on got two more children. This family was not well off, his father being a druggist moved from town to town in a bid to improve their livelihood. During his childhood, Linus made a friend who was obsessed with Chemistry. Because of the curious nature of Linus back then, this sparked his interest in the subject. Together, they performed numerous experiments, and it was at that time that Linus decided that he will be a chemist.

His shy nature as a child was cut short when his father died. He was only nine and had to look for employment to help his mother. Linus did all types of jobs that did not require a particular skill set, such as washing clothes and dishes. His desire for being a chemical engineer rose while he was in high-school. He did all kinds of experiments on his own, and teachers started noticing his brilliance.

In 1917, Linus Pauling enrolled in his hometown university, The Oregon Agricultural College. The college gave him an opportunity to pursue his childhood dream and become a chemist (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi, 2001). Linus developed a desire in, particularly researching molecules. In his fourth year at the University, Linus met Hellen, who later on became his wife. They got married a year later after graduation, and together they had four kids. Later on, Linus joined the Cal Tech to pursue his doctorate.

After finishing his doctorate, Linus wandered off to Europe to further his knowledge of Quantum mechanics. This is a branch of science that deals with the study of photons that move in a wave-like manner. The California Institute of Technology appreciated his love for science and went ahead to hire him. He was chosen to become an assistant professor at the institute in 1927. He was particularly placed at the Chemistry wing of studies and later on became a full-time professor. His stay at the University lasted for 36 years.

Linus Pauling's work mainly required him to do constant research, especially on structures related to chemicals. He researched on the complex organization of non-living things diving deeper into what actually hold their structures together. Linus, together with his colleague, further increased their knowledge of atoms, amino acids, and peptides. Amino acids comprise of proteins, whereas peptides are a result of a combination of many amino acids. Armed with various research observations, Linus wrote a paper on the topic. The paper was successful and was recognized by the American Chemical Society because the research had just come from a young man. This motivated him to write his first book on molecular structure, a book that made him win his first Nobel Prize a couple of years later.

Pauling developed a new interest in biological molecules. He began studying on functions of the human body and its molecular structure. Together with his colleague Coryell, they made a significant discovery on hemoglobin, which contains red blood cells. They discovered that human beings produce numerous forms of hemoglobin (Pauling, 1971). Humans may have a disorder due to a type of hemoglobin that gobs itself, and less oxygen travels through the body. This discovery enabled scientists to find ways to fight sickle cell disease.

Linus Pauling decided to use his fame and success to promote world peace. In every event he attended, he never failed to bring up this particular issue (Marinacci & Krishnamurthy 1998). His efforts in stopping a critical bill regarding nuclear bomb testing paid off. He was against that proposal because of the dire effects it would bring to people. Numerous leaders across the world agreed to this. He later on, wrote a book about the subject and named it "No More War." Pauling faced many critics at that time from all angles (Marinacci & Krishnamurthy, 1998). He was even denied traveling rights because of the speeches he made. Despite all these hardships, Linus continued advocating on the topic, and it finally paid off when he was awarded a second Nobel Peace Prize.

Conclusion

Linus made a significant impact on the medical field of science. He made a particular study on Vitamin C. From his research, he found out that regular intake of vitamin C can prevent cold-related diseases (Pauling, 1971). He wrote a book on the topic to explain all the details of his research. Linus founded a research center that was mainly focusing on orthomolecular medicine. He went on to write numerous books regarding health matters. On August 19th, 1994, Linus' death occurred due to cancer. His works are still appreciated to date, and he is regarded as the chemist who brought a lasting impact on the world of health.

References

Marinacci, B., & Krishnamurthy, R. S. (1998). Linus Pauling on peace: A scientist speaks out on humanism and world survival : Writings and talks by Linus Pauling. Rising Star Press.

Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2001). Catalytic creativity: The case of Linus Pauling. American Psychologist, 56(4), 337–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.4.337

Pauling L. Vitamin C and the common cold. Can Med Assoc J. 1971;105(5):448450.