Spinach on The Ceiling: The Multifaceted Life of a Theoretical Chemist
Martin Karplus’ autobiography offers deep insights into his scientific work but few personal touches
Martin Karplus won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 2013 for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems. Growing up in the 1930s, he was forced to flee his native Austria as a Jewish refugee in the years leading up to the second world war. This autobiography details the events of his life from pre-war Austria, through his time as a student and his scientific career, all the way up to receiving the Nobel prize and beyond.