Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

War and peace.

Gregory A Petsko1

  • 1Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, USA. petsko@brandeis.edu

Genome Biology
|May 8, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Great scientific discoveries, like the double helix, are rarely achieved during wartime or for military purposes. This highlights the importance of peaceful research environments for scientific breakthroughs.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The evolving landscape of protein structure and molecular recognition.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same author

RhoGEF12 regulates endosomal SORL1-retromer and its inhibition is therapeutic in human neuronal models of Alzheimer's disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

The <i>SORL1</i> p.Y1816C variant causes impaired endosomal dimerization and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024
Same author

RIOK2 transcriptionally regulates TRiC and dyskerin complexes to prevent telomere shortening.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Author Correction: CEACAM1 regulates TIM-3-mediated tolerance and exhaustion.

Nature·2024
Same author

On the causal role of retromer-dependent endosomal recycling in Alzheimer's disease.

Nature cell biology·2023

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • History of Science

Background:

  • The fiftieth anniversary of the double helix discovery provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the conditions fostering scientific advancement.
  • Historical analysis suggests a correlation between periods of peace and the emergence of groundbreaking scientific insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the historical context of major scientific discoveries.
  • To evaluate the impact of wartime conditions on scientific innovation.
  • To underscore the conditions conducive to fundamental scientific breakthroughs.

Main Methods:

  • Historical research and analysis of major scientific discoveries.
  • Literature review of scientific advancements and their socio-political contexts.
  • Comparative study of discoveries made during peacetime versus wartime.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that significant scientific discoveries are seldom made during active warfare.
  • Discoveries driven by military objectives are less common than those arising from fundamental research.
  • The double helix discovery serves as a case study illustrating this trend.

Conclusions:

  • Peaceful environments are more conducive to fundamental scientific progress.
  • War and military aims do not typically catalyze major scientific breakthroughs.
  • Protecting and promoting non-militarized scientific inquiry is crucial for future discoveries.