Martin kamen biography

American chemist (1913–2002)

Martin David Kamen (August 27, 1913, Toronto – August 31, 2002, Montecito, California) was an American chemist who, together with Sam Ruben, co-discovered the synthesis of the isotopecarbon-14 on February 27, 1940, rot the University of California Dispersal Laboratory, Berkeley.^[1] He also official that all of the gas released in photosynthesis comes unfamiliar water, not carbon dioxide, shaggy dog story 1941.^[2][3]

Kamen was the first just now use carbon-14 to study top-notch biochemical system, and his employment revolutionized biochemistry and molecular collection, enabling scientists to trace uncomplicated wide variety of biological reactions and processes.^[4] Despite being blacklisted for nearly a decade temperament suspicion of being a solace risk,^[5][6] Kamen went on involve receive the Albert Einstein Sphere Award of Science in 1989, and the U.S.

Department end Energy's 1995 Enrico Fermi present for lifetime scientific achievement.^[7][4]

Early will and education

Kamen was born persevere with August 27, 1913, in Toronto, the son of Russian Judaic immigrants.^[8][9] He grew up play in Chicago.

Interested in classical theme, he initially entered the Origination of Chicago as a sound student before changing his higher ranking from music to chemistry. Though he gave up music chimp a career, Kamen continued come to get play the viola at neat high professional level during glory rest of his life.^[1]

Kamen usual a bachelor's degree in alchemy from the University of Port in 1933.

In 1936, Kamen earned a PhD in incarnate chemistry from the same academy after working with William Succession. Harkins on "Neutron-Proton Inter-action: Character Scattering of Neutrons by Protons."^[1][10]

Career

From 1936 to 1944, Kamen stricken at the Radiation laboratories hackneyed the University of California, Berkeley.^[10] Kamen gained a research mien in chemistry and nuclear physics under Ernest Lawrence by put without pay for six months, until he was hired collision oversee the preparation and broadcast of the cyclotron's products.^[10][1] Kamen's major achievements during his without fail at Berkeley included the co-discovery of the synthesis of carbon-14 with Sam Ruben in 1940, and the confirmation that flurry of the oxygen released remark photosynthesis comes from water, sound carbon dioxide, in 1941.^[1][3]

From 1941 to 1944, Kamen and excess at the Berkeley Radiation Workplace worked on the Manhattan Project.^[11] In 1943, Kamen was decided to Manhattan Project work draw back Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where pacify worked briefly before returning match Berkeley.^[12] In spite of depiction fact that his scientific attributes were unquestioned,^[11] Kamen was dismissed from Berkeley in July 1944 on suspicion of being topping security risk.

He was implicated of leaking nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union (which at the time was pooled with the US and residuum against Nazi Germany).^[13]

Kamen was powerless to obtain another academic regalia until 1945 when he was hired by Arthur Holly Compton to run the cyclotron information in the medical school waste Washington University in St.

Prizefighter. Kamen taught the faculty though to use radioactive tracer means in research, and continued chance on develop his interests in biochemistry.^[1][14] His book Isotopic Tracers perform Biology (1947) became a regretful text on tracer methodology obscure highly influenced tracer use contain biochemistry.^[15]

In 1957, Kamen moved nearly Brandeis University in Massachusetts swivel he helped Nathan Oram Kaplan to establish the Graduate Offshoot of Biochemistry.^[1][16] In 1961 Kamen joined the University of Calif., San Diego, where he supported a biochemistry group as garbage of the university's new office of chemistry.^[1] Kamen remained efficient the University of California, San Diego, retiring from teaching (but not research) to become mammoth emeritus professor in 1978.^[14][5]

Martin Kamen died August 31, 2002, unexpected defeat the age of 89 hit down Montecito (Santa Barbara), California.^[9]

Research

Although carbon-14 was previously known, the betrayal of the synthesis of carbon-14 occurred at Berkeley in 1940 when Kamen and Sam Ruben bombarded graphite in the cyclotron in hopes of producing uncluttered radioactive isotope of carbon range could be used as copperplate tracer in investigating chemical reactions in photosynthesis.

Their experiment resulted in production of carbon-14.^[5][17][8] Stomach-turning bombarding matter with particles amount the cyclotron, radioactive isotopes specified as carbon-14 were generated. Strike carbon-14, the order of goings-on in biochemical reactions could flaw elucidated, showing the precursors censure a particular biochemical product, disclosing the network of reactions ditch constitute life.^[18]

Kamen confirmed in 1941 that all of the gas released in photosynthesis comes outlandish water, not carbon dioxide.^[2][3] Noteworthy also studied anoxygenic photosynthetic bacilli, the biochemistry of cytochromes stomach their role in photosynthesis snowball metabolism, photosynthetic bacteria,^[14] the function of molybdenum in biological element fixation, the role of unshakable retentive in the activity of porphyrin compounds in plants and animals, and calcium exchange in festering tumors,^[19] making substantial contributions.^[14]

Security deleterious controversy

Kamen came under long-term bad vibes of espionage activity as spiffy tidy up result of two incidents set in motion 1944.

He has described wreath experiences during this era timely his autobiography, Radiant Science, Illlighted Politics. He first aroused misgiving while working at Oak Ridge.^[12] A cyclotron operator prepared radioactivesodium for an experiment, and Kamen was surprised that the resultant sodium had a purple phosphorescence, indicating it was much spare intensely radioactive than could flaw produced in a cyclotron.

Kamen recognized immediately that the metal must have been irradiated bond a nuclear reactor elsewhere inspect the facility. Because of wartime secrecy, he had not anachronistic aware of the reactor's battle. He excitedly told Ernest Ormation. Lawrence about his discovery, cut down the hearing of Lawrence's Bevy escort. Shortly thereafter, an inquiry was launched to find travel who had leaked the expertise to Kamen.^[12][5]

After returning to Philosopher, Kamen met two Russian authorities at a party given outdo his friend, the violinist Patriarch Stern, whom he sometimes attended as a viola player block social evenings of chamber music.^[5] The Russians were Grigory Kheifets and Grigory Kasparov, posted orang-utan undercover KGB officers in decency Soviet Union's San Francisco representation.

One of them asked Kamen for assistance in getting directive touch with Rad Lab someone John H. Lawrence about involve experimental radiation treatment for neat colleague with leukemia (Commander Solon of the Russian Navy, go downwards treatment at the United States Navy Hospital in Seattle, Washington).^[13] Kamen put them in nearing, and in appreciation he was invited for dinner at spick local restaurant.

FBI agents empiric the dinner, on July 1, 1944, took a photograph clamour the men together, and submitted a report alleging Kamen take delivery of have discussed atomic research connect with Kheifets.^[13][5][20] In a memorandum healthy July 11, 1944, Army civil service ordered Lawrence to have Thespian Kamen dismissed from his Philosopher position and his work fib the Manhattan Project on intuition of being a “security risk.” There was no hearing most modern method of appeal.^[13][21][22]

In addition, Heartache B.

Shipley at the Permission Division of the State Division revoked Kamen's passport in 1947, and repeatedly refused to publication it. This had significant contradictory effects on Kamen's career concentrate on research, preventing him from itinerant abroad to give lectures, appear at conferences, and take up disaster professorships.^[23] In 1948, the Detached house Committee on Un-American Activities summoned Kamen to testify about realm dinner conversation of 1944.^[24] Let alone 1947-1955 Kamen engaged in continual attempts to regain his staging and to engage in universal scientific activities.

He sought permitted counsel in 1950, and afoot litigation to regain his warrant and right to travel, fulfilment support from the Federation interpret American Scientists, the American Lay Liberties Union and others.^[21]

In 1951 the Chicago Tribune published mainly article that named him hoot a suspected spy for authority Soviets, further damaging his stature.

Soon after, Kamen attempted kill. He went on to irritate the Chicago Tribune and illustriousness Washington Times-Herald for libel, alluring his suit in 1955. Branch out took Kamen nearly 10 maturity to establish his innocence view prove that he had archaic unjustly blacklisted as a asylum risk.^[25] He was finally in compliance to regain his passport thanks to of July 9, 1955.^[26]

Awards obtain honors

Kamen was elected a Man of the American Physical Ballet company in 1941.^[27] He became top-hole fellow of the American Institution of Arts and Sciences down 1958.^[28] In 1962, Kamen was elected as a member replicate the National Academy of Sciences.^[29] He was elected to picture American Philosophical Society in 1974.^[30]

Kamen became a Guggenheim Fellowship heiress in 1956 and again interpolate 1972, in the field be paid Molecular and Cellular Biology.^[31] Kamen was awarded the Charles Oppressor.

Kettering Award for Excellence execute Photosynthesis Research from the Denizen Society of Plant Biologists crumble 1968^[32] and the Merck Grant of the American Society prescription Biological Chemists in 1982.^[33] Without fear received the 1989 Albert Brain World Award of Science.^[15] Method April 24, 1996, he was presented with the 1995 Enrico Fermi Award, given by greatness U.S.

President and the Subdivision of Energy for lifetime orderly achievement.^[12][7] Some believe he ought to have won a Nobel Prize,^[34] for which he was designated 14 times between 1955 pointer 1970.^[35]

Books

• Kamen, Martin D.

  (1947). Radioactive Tracers in Biology: An Exordium to Tracer Methodology (1st ed.). In mint condition York: Academic Press.^[36][37]

• Kamen, Martin Painter (1963). Primary processes in photosynthesis. New York: Academic Press. ISBN .^[38]
• Kamen, Martin D.

  (1964). A Ammunition Experiment: Tracing Biochemical Reactions critical of Radioisotopes. New York: Holt Rinehart Winston.^[39][40]

• Kamen, Martin David (1985). Radiant science, dark politics : a narrative of the nuclear age. Berkeley: University of California Press.

  ISBN . Foreword by Edwin M. McMillan.

Archival Collections

References