World-Changing Chemists and Their Cool Creations

Chemistry is all around us. From food preservation to life-saving medications, our safety and our quality of life is enhanced by the hard work of passionate chemists. Keep reading to learn about some of the inspiring innovators who have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® for their amazing contributions to the field of chemistry!

Marvin Caruthers: A Game-changer in Biological Research

Hall of Famer Marvin Caruthers earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Iowa State University and his doctorate in biochemistry from Northwestern University. In the 1980s, he and his team at the University of Colorado Boulder developed methods for chemically synthesizing DNA. This breakthrough dramatically advanced biological research, enabling researchers to investigate the formation of certain genetic sequences, and to locate and isolate genes of selected proteins. Caruthers’ work helped launch the biotechnology industry and led to medications that have made a significant impact for patients with severe kidney disease and cancer.

Emmett W. Chappelle: A Trailblazer in Life Sciences

Following his graduation from the University of Washington with a master’s degree in biology, Hall of Famer Emmett Chappelle began studying the qualities of light given off by different life forms while working for NASA. In 1963, while leading the development of instruments used to scrape soil from Mars on NASA's Viking probe, he discovered that a specific combination of chemicals caused living organisms to produce and emit light. Through his innovations in harvesting the power of bioluminescence, Chappelle enabled many important findings in both chemistry and biology.

Helen M. Free: A Pioneer in Diagnostic Chemistry

Hall of Famer Helen Free earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the College of Wooster and her master’s degree from Central Michigan University. She worked for Miles Laboratories, which was later acquired by Bayer. Her work introduced dip-and-read urine tests beginning in 1956 with Clinistix^®, which aided in diabetes monitoring and led to a line of efficient, easy-to-use self-tests to help patients detect glucose. Free’s work made great strides in urinalysis and blood chemistry, and procedures she developed alongside husband and colleague, Hall of Famer Alfred Free, are still used today in laboratories across the globe.

Lloyd Augustus Hall: A Leader in Food Chemistry

After earning a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Northwestern University and completing graduate work at the University of Chicago, Hall of Famer Lloyd Augustus Hall created many of the preservative chemicals used to keep food fresh while maintaining flavor. His invention of “flash-dried” salt crystals revolutionized the meatpacking industry in the 1930s. Hall, who held more than 100 patents, debunked the belief that many spices and flavorings, like ginger and cloves, acted as preservatives, proving that in reality, they exposed foods to various microbes. He developed a process called the Ethylene Oxide Vacugas treatment to combat the growth of molds and bacteria in various foods while maintaining their appearance, taste and aroma.

Keep Exploring

Visit our website to learn about more incredible innovators and world-changing inventions.