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J. D. Bernal

Irish scientist (1901-1971) · United Kingdom · Scientists · Died at 70

J. D. Bernal is read about 85 times a day, in 40 languages.

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He turned X-rays into a way to see the architecture of molecules - a technique that unlocked the structure of life itself and made modern molecular biology possible.

Scientists Scientist Physics Philosophy Literature History Chemistry United Kingdom

A life in dates

1971Died15 September 19711969“The present aristocracy of western culture, at the very moment when it most clearly dominates the world, is being imitated rapidly and successfully in every eastern country.”In their wordsp. 68Read the whole statement

1967“Life is a partial, continuous, progressive, multiform and conditionally interactive self-realization of the potentialities of atomic electron states.”In their wordsThe Origin of Life (1967), Preface, p. xvRead the whole statement

“At different stages in the educational process different changes are required.”In their wordsMarch 1967p. 246: How such a method of teaching could become an integral part of general education is sketched by H. G. Wells' British AssociationRead the whole statement

1962Royal Society Bakerian MedalAward1959“No one, who knows what the difficulties are, now believes that the crisis of physics is likely to be resolved by any simple trick or modification of existing theories.”In their wordsScience in history Vol 3. (1959/1969) p. 862; cited in: Ludwig von Bertalanffy, General System Theory (1968), pp. 5-6Read the whole statement

1953International Stalin Prize for PeaceAward1947Guthrie LectureAward1945Royal MedalAward1937“In the decade after the war Freud’s theories dominated the narrow circles of British intellectuals. His psycho-analysis was accepted warmly for many reasons.”In their wordsJuly 1937"Psycho-Analysis and Marxism" in: The Labour Monthly, Vol. 19, No. 7 (July 1937), pp. 435-437. Online here on Marxists Internet ArchiveRead the whole statement

1929“The problem [of specialization] is essentially that of communications to an army in action.”In their wordsp. 48; as cited in C. K. Ogden, Psyche, 10 (1929/30) p. 116Read the whole statement

1901Born10 May 1901

Also in Deutsch

In their own words 10

J. D. Bernal

10 statements, newest first

There are two futures, the future of desire and the future of fate, and man's reason has never learnt to separate them.
1969, p. 3. Intro of part I. The Future online, Own words
The present aristocracy of western culture, at the very moment when it most clearly dominates the world, is being imitated rapidly and successfully in every eastern country.
1969, p. 68, Own words
Life is a partial, continuous, progressive, multiform and conditionally interactive self-realization of the potentialities of atomic electron states.
1967, The Origin of Life (1967), Preface, p. xv, Own words

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Awards

Royal Society Bakerian Medal1962

International Stalin Prize for Peace1953

Guthrie Lecture1947

Royal Medal1945

Fellow of the Royal Society

Honorary doctor of the Humboldt University of Berlin

Faraday Medal and Prize

In their orbit

Child: Martin Bernal

About this person

John Desmond Bernal was born in Ireland on 10 May 1901. He pioneered X-ray crystallography in molecular biology, using the method to reveal molecular structures that had been invisible before. Beyond the lab, he published extensively on the history of science and wrote popular books exploring the relationship between science and society. He was a communist activist and a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Bernal died on 15 September 1971, leaving a method that would shape decades of discovery.

Country

United Kingdom

In common with J.

Archibald HillBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize Jeffrey GoldstoneBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize

Brian JosephsonBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize

Athene DonaldBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize

Ernest RutherfordBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize

Richard EllisBoth received Faraday Medal and Prize

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