In this episode of pplpod, we profile the extraordinary life of Dorothy Hodgkin, the pioneering English chemist who advanced the technique of X-ray crystallography to unlock the secrets of biomolecules. Join us as we examine how Hodgkin mapped the three-dimensional structures of penicillin and vitamin B12, discoveries that led to her becoming the only British woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize in the sciences,.

We also explore the perseverance behind her 35-year quest to decipher the structure of insulin and her determination to continue her research despite developing severe rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 24,. Finally, we discuss her unique intersection with history, from mentoring future Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to the political activism that resulted in her being banned from the United States,.