Turning Points

How an ‘eccentric’ line of research proved its worth.

How a terrifying interview led to fun doing physics.

How a tiny observation turned out to have a controlling influence.

How a non-conformist theory beat scepticism and got into the textbooks.

How a stroll in the park led to the beginning of quantum electronics.

How failing a PhD led to a strategy for a successful scientific career.

When taking a risk proved a wise choice for one postdoc.

Theory and experiment meet to find the key adaptor for gene translation.

How an unexpected allegory led to the birth of a new subject.

An eye-opening experience of the wonders of perception.

How an Italian visitor rekindled the joy of science in a war veteran.

How an annotated book transformed a theoretician into an historian.

How Nobel assistance helped a young researcher test a crazy idea.

How an engineer became hooked on atmospheric chemistry.

How a visit to the home of structural biology inspired a young scientist.

How reading Ernst Mayr's books (in his bathtub) changed my research.

How a rejected paper generated a flourishing research programme.

How ignoring glaring problems can sometimes lead to fruitful theories.

A timely rescue from a ‘too clever’ idea.

How an extra control experiment led to a change of research field.