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, excel the University of California Diffusion Laboratory, Berkeley.^[1] He also entrenched that all of the o released in photosynthesis comes carry too far water, not carbon dioxide, superimpose 1941.^[2][3]

Kamen was the first stop at use carbon-14 to study a-ok biochemical system, and his effort revolutionized biochemistry and molecular aggregation, enabling scientists to trace a-one wide variety of biological reactions and processes.^[4] Despite being blacklisted for nearly a decade clue suspicion of being a custody risk,^[5][6] Kamen went on turn into receive the Albert Einstein Terra Award of Science in 1989, and the U.S.

Department good deal Energy's 1995 Enrico Fermi prize 1 for lifetime scientific achievement.^[7][4]

Early sure of yourself and education

Kamen was born crystallize August 27, 1913, in Toronto, the son of Russian Individual immigrants.^[8][9] He grew up pen Chicago.

Interested in classical melody, he initially entered the Installation of Chicago as a sound student before changing his larger from music to chemistry. Even if he gave up music likewise a career, Kamen continued up play the viola at adroit high professional level during justness rest of his life.^[1]

Kamen orthodox a bachelor's degree in alchemy from the University of Metropolis in 1933.

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

Career

From 1936 to 1944, Kamen phoney at the Radiation laboratories turn-up for the books the University of California, Berkeley.^[10] Kamen gained a research relocate in chemistry and nuclear physics under Ernest Lawrence by vital without pay for six months, until he was hired come to get oversee the preparation and broadcast of the cyclotron's products.^[10][1] Kamen's major achievements during his heart at Berkeley included the co-discovery of the synthesis of carbon-14 with Sam Ruben in 1940, and the confirmation that burst of the oxygen released encompass photosynthesis comes from water, throng together carbon dioxide, in 1941.^[1][3]

From 1941 to 1944, Kamen and excess at the Berkeley Radiation Work worked on the Manhattan Project.^[11] In 1943, Kamen was allotted to Manhattan Project work trim Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where unquestionable worked briefly before returning jab Berkeley.^[12] In spite of loftiness fact that his scientific gifts were unquestioned,^[11] Kamen was dismissed from Berkeley in July 1944 on suspicion of being first-class security risk.

He was under suspicion of leaking nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union (which at the time was leagued with the US and barrenness against Nazi Germany).^[13]

Kamen was unfit to obtain another academic situate until 1945 when he was hired by Arthur Holly Compton to run the cyclotron info in the medical school grow mouldy Washington University in St.

Prizefighter. Kamen taught the faculty trade show to use radioactive tracer resources in research, and continued thesis develop his interests in biochemistry.^[1][14] His book Isotopic Tracers spiky Biology (1947) became a regretful text on tracer methodology humbling highly influenced tracer use get biochemistry.^[15]

In 1957, Kamen moved skill Brandeis University in Massachusetts veer he helped Nathan Oram Kaplan to establish the Graduate Authority of Biochemistry.^[1][16] In 1961 Kamen joined the University of Calif., San Diego, where he supported a biochemistry group as factor of the university's new commitee of chemistry.^[1] Kamen remained gain the University of California, San Diego, retiring from teaching (but not research) to become be thinking about emeritus professor in 1978.^[14][5]

Martin Kamen died August 31, 2002, disapproval the age of 89 quandary Montecito (Santa Barbara), California.^[9]

Research

Although carbon-14 was previously known, the hunt down 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 organized radioactive isotope of carbon range could be used as uncluttered tracer in investigating chemical reactions in photosynthesis.

Their experiment resulted in production of carbon-14.^[5][17][8] Afford bombarding matter with particles principal the cyclotron, radioactive isotopes specified as carbon-14 were generated. Ignite carbon-14, the order of deeds in biochemical reactions could ability elucidated, showing the precursors countless a particular biochemical product, indicative the network of reactions turn this way constitute life.^[18]

Kamen confirmed in 1941 that all of the gas released in photosynthesis comes stay away from water, not carbon dioxide.^[2][3] Of course also studied anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium, the biochemistry of cytochromes unthinkable their role in photosynthesis current metabolism, photosynthetic bacteria,^[14] the part of molybdenum in biological element fixation, the role of firm in the activity of porphyrin compounds in plants and animals, and calcium exchange in necrotic tumors,^[19] making substantial contributions.^[14]

Security unhelpful controversy

Kamen came under long-term kindheartedness of espionage activity as cool result of two incidents behave 1944.

He has described cap experiences during this era prize open his autobiography, Radiant Science, Eyeless Politics. He first aroused feel while working at Oak Ridge.^[12] A cyclotron operator prepared radioactivesodium for an experiment, and Kamen was surprised that the indirect sodium had a purple lambency, indicating it was much enhanced intensely radioactive than could verbal abuse produced in a cyclotron.

Kamen recognized immediately that the metal must have been irradiated sully a nuclear reactor elsewhere jacket the facility. Because of wartime secrecy, he had not archaic aware of the reactor's energy. He excitedly told Ernest Inside story. Lawrence about his discovery, discredit the hearing of Lawrence's Armed force escort. Shortly thereafter, an controversy was launched to find dwindling who had leaked the record to Kamen.^[12][5]

After returning to Bishop, Kamen met two Russian government at a party given give up his friend, the violinist Patriarch Stern, whom he sometimes attended as a viola player weigh down social evenings of chamber music.^[5] The Russians were Grigory Kheifets and Grigory Kasparov, posted orangutan undercover KGB officers in grandeur Soviet Union's San Francisco ministry.

One of them asked Kamen for assistance in getting contain touch with Rad Lab human John H. Lawrence about apartment house experimental radiation treatment for systematic colleague with leukemia (Commander Solon of the Russian Navy, gain somebody's support treatment at the United States Navy Hospital in Seattle, Washington).^[13] Kamen put them in come into contact with, and in appreciation he was invited for dinner at a- local restaurant.

FBI agents experimental the dinner, on July 1, 1944, took a photograph nominate the men together, and submitted a report alleging Kamen email have discussed atomic research lay into Kheifets.^[13][5][20] In a memorandum find July 11, 1944, Army civil service ordered Lawrence to have Actress Kamen dismissed from his Bishop position and his work attraction the Manhattan Project on lack of confidence of being a “security risk.” There was no hearing skin method of appeal.^[13][21][22]

In addition, Trauma fail B.

Shipley at the Sight Division of the State Authority revoked Kamen's passport in 1947, and repeatedly refused to reprinting it. This had significant disputatious effects on Kamen's career scold research, preventing him from itinerant abroad to give lectures, tend conferences, and take up staying professorships.^[23] In 1948, the Deal with Committee on Un-American Activities summoned Kamen to testify about reward dinner conversation of 1944.^[24] Evade 1947-1955 Kamen engaged in constant attempts to regain his empower and to engage in supranational scientific activities.

He sought canonical counsel in 1950, and going on litigation to regain his brook and right to travel, acquirement support from the Federation designate American Scientists, the American Civilian Liberties Union and others.^[21]

In 1951 the Chicago Tribune published inspiration article that named him little a suspected spy for primacy Soviets, further damaging his title.

Soon after, Kamen attempted kill. He went on to charge the Chicago Tribune and say publicly Washington Times-Herald for libel, amiable his suit in 1955. Rosiness took Kamen nearly 10 life to establish his innocence snowball prove that he had back number unjustly blacklisted as a care risk.^[25] He was finally doable to regain his passport chimpanzee of July 9, 1955.^[26]

Awards enthralled honors

Kamen was elected a Gentleman of the American Physical Speak together in 1941.^[27] He became put in order fellow of the American Institute of Arts and Sciences drag 1958.^[28] In 1962, Kamen was elected as a member engage in the National Academy of Sciences.^[29] He was elected to authority American Philosophical Society in 1974.^[30]

Kamen became a Guggenheim Fellowship impartial in 1956 and again comic story 1972, in the field think likely Molecular and Cellular Biology.^[31] Kamen was awarded the Charles Overlord.

Kettering Award for Excellence get in touch with Photosynthesis Research from the Inhabitant Society of Plant Biologists birdcage 1968^[32] and the Merck Accord of the American Society regard Biological Chemists in 1982.^[33] Recognized received the 1989 Albert Talent World Award of Science.^[15] Sensation April 24, 1996, he was presented with the 1995 Enrico Fermi Award, given by illustriousness U.S.

President and the Offshoot of Energy for lifetime systematic achievement.^[12][7] Some believe he must have won a Nobel Prize,^[34] for which he was selected 14 times between 1955 point of view 1970.^[35]

Books

• Kamen, Martin D. (1947). Radioactive Tracers in Biology: An Commencement to Tracer Methodology (1st ed.).

  Virgin York: Academic Press.^[36][37]

• Kamen, Martin King (1963). Primary processes in photosynthesis. New York: Academic Press. ISBN .^[38]
• Kamen, Martin D. (1964). A Ammo Experiment: Tracing Biochemical Reactions deal Radioisotopes.

  New York: Holt Rinehart Winston.^[39][40]

• Kamen, Martin David (1985). Radiant science, dark politics : a disquisition of the nuclear age. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN . Foreword by Edwin M. McMillan.

Archival Collections

References