Dorothy Hodgkin

Dorothy Hodgkin’s 1964 Chemistry prize revolutionized structural biology by mapping penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin using X-ray crystallography. Her technique revealed molecules at atomic resolution, achieving a precision that was 50% more accurate than #6 Linus Pauling’s earlier bond models—she resolved vitamin B12’s structure down to 0.2 angstroms in 1956. This breakthrough transformed drug design, enabling synthetic penicillin production that saved millions of lives; over 60 years later, her structures remain foundational references. She outperforms #7 Max Planck’s theoretical quantum leaps by applying physics to tangible biochemistry: Hodgkin oversaw 1,500+ X-ray exposures to solve insulin in 1969, after decades of work. Her concrete achievement includes determining the antibiotic’s molecular weight at 334 Da, a data point that guided medicinal chemistry. Hodgkin’s legacy proves that meticulous lab work can outlast theoretical revolutions in immediate human impact.