The Unexpected Life-Saving Chemistry of Nobel Prizes
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Chapter 1: The Perilous Situation
During World War II, Niels Bohr found himself in a life-threatening predicament as Nazi soldiers advanced through Denmark towards his laboratory.
This passage highlights the dire circumstances faced by Bohr due to his assistance to two German physicists — one a Jew and the other a staunch opponent of the Nazi regime. Their Nobel Prizes were left behind, and the Gestapo was aware of Bohr's actions. With little evidence needed to justify his execution, the prizes, made of solid gold and weighing half a pound each, posed a significant risk.
Section 1.1: A Desperate Plan
On the day in question, a chemist named George de Hevesy was visiting Bohr's lab when they realized they had mere hours, or perhaps just minutes, to conceal the valuable gold awards.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Art of Hiding
Hevesy proposed burying the prizes, but Bohr was aware that the Nazis would meticulously inspect the area, making any fresh dirt an obvious hiding spot.
As time was running out, Hevesy recalled a tale from the twelfth century regarding aqua regia, a solution said to dissolve gold. Inspired, he prepared the mixture, placed the two gold pieces into it, and waited for the reaction.
Section 1.2: The Waiting Game
At first, there was no visible change, but gradually the gold began to bubble. Gold is notoriously stable and resistant to chemical reactions, raising doubts about whether aqua regia could succeed where other acids had failed.
Hevesy carefully positioned the flask on a shelf surrounded by other chemicals, hoping it would remain undetected.
Chapter 2: The Nazis Arrive
The first video titled "He Killed Millions. Then He Won A Nobel Prize" explores the complex history of individuals associated with Nobel Prizes, including their moral dilemmas and contributions.
When the Nazis stormed in, they began a frantic search of the premises, demolishing walls and floors in their quest for any trace of gold. Yet, despite their thoroughness, they could find nothing.
By the time they reached the shelves, the gold had effectively vanished, cleverly disguised within the chemical mixture that the Nazis failed to recognize.
Although the final product was neither colorless nor odorless, it was sufficient to deceive the Nazis and ultimately save Bohr’s life.
Chapter 3: A Remarkable Recovery
After the war concluded, Hevesy achieved the extraordinary feat of reversing the process, retrieving the gold, and returning it to the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. The Nobel Foundation then recast the two awards and presented them to their rightful recipients.
The second video titled "Ep. 38: Nobel laureates Frances Arnold and Jennifer Doudna on prizes, pandemics, and Jimmy Page" discusses the impact of Nobel Prizes on science and society, highlighting key figures in contemporary science.
While alchemy is often dismissed by physicists as a defunct field, Hevesy and Bohr likely held a newfound respect for its legacy, having experienced first-hand the life-saving potential of chemistry in their time of need.