Even before his Nobel prizes, association with the international peace movement and revolutionary protein work, Linus Pauling was unequivocally one of the most brilliant scientists on the globe. And when his country entered into the largest conflict in world history, he threw himself and his scientific expertise behind the cause. Pauling participated in dozens of research programs from 1940-1945 in order to give his countrymen and allies an advantage on the battlefield. From invisible ink to oxygen meters, he and his fellow researchers applied the latest technology and scientific advancements to military problems in the struggle for victory.

While Pauling suffered a great number of setbacks and often found his hard-earned discoveries tinged with disappointment, he played an important role in one of the grandest scientific moments in human memory, working with his colleagues to collectively change the course of history. This website examines the intellectuality of the Greatest Generation at its seminal moment through Pauling's experiences with violence, patriotism, and discovery; experiences that ultimately shaped the political and scientific world we live in today.