Linus Pauling

Linus Pauling (1901 - 1994) was a renowned chemist, biologist, and medical researcher as well as an advocate in later life for nuclear weapon control and vitamin C use. Linus Pauling was also an atheist.

In 1954 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work describing the nature of chemical bonds. He also made important contributions to crystal and protein structure determination. Pauling received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his campaign against above-ground nuclear testing, and is the only person to win two Nobel prizes that were not shared with another recipient. Pauling later became an advocate for Vitamin C usage, writing his popular book How to Live Longer and Feel Better while well into his 80's. Although it was not his field, Pauling believed that Vitamin C usage could help to ward off and decrease the severity of common colds and in large dosages could help to fight cancer. Pauling himself lived to age 93 before succumbing to prostate cancer.