Linus Pauling, an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator is extraordinary for his many achievements.
Pauling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his scientific work. In 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his peace activism. This makes him the only person to be awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes.
In science, Pauling was a founder of quantum chemistry, molecular biology, and molecular genetics. To him we owe several indispensable scientific concepts.
By the early 1930s, Pauling was able to show that quantum chemistry could do more than produce results that agreed with experiments. He used it to correctly predict the properties of molecules and their structures. In 1957, he was instrumental in gathering a petition to ban nuclear weapons testing. It was signed by over 11,000 scientists from 50 countries. Later, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union agreed to a partial nuclear test to a partial nuclear test ban, mainly as a result of the petition. Pauling received the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
