CHEMISTRY OF LIFE & HEALTH
Meet six scientists whose questions, persistence, and discoveries changed chemistry and our understanding of life. Explore their work, then follow the links to their Nobel stories.
Why chemistry matters to Biology & NursingInside the Human BodyChemistry of Medicine
Isolated radioactive elements and helped establish the chemistry of radium and polonium. Her Chemistry Nobel followed her 1903 Physics Nobel.
Explore the 1911 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
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Used X-ray crystallography to reveal important biochemical structures. Her work on molecules such as penicillin and vitamin B₁₂ showed how structure can unlock biological understanding.
Explore the 1964 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
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Shared the Chemistry Nobel with Emmanuelle Charpentier for developing a genome-editing method. Their work helped turn CRISPR-associated molecular machinery into a powerful research tool.
Explore the 2020 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
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Developed directed evolution of enzymes: generate variation, select useful activity, and repeat. The method harnesses evolutionary principles to improve molecular catalysts.
Explore the 2018 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
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Investigated the ribosome’s structure and function. The ribosome translates genetic instructions into proteins, linking molecular structure to one of life’s central processes.
Explore the 2009 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
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Shared the Chemistry Nobel with Frédéric Joliot for synthesizing new radioactive elements. Their experiments showed that radioactivity could be induced in previously stable materials.
Explore the 1935 Chemistry Nobel and the discovery behind it.
Explore her discoveryPortrait source and credits