Ada Yonath
She shared the Nobel Prize for her work on the structure and function of the ribosome.
Most quoted
"The path to scientific discovery is rarely linear. There are moments of frustration, dead ends, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But the thrill of a breakthrough makes it all worthwhile."
— from Personal Diary
"The ribosome is a molecular machine that translates genetic information into proteins, the workhorses of the cell. Understanding its structure is key to understanding life itself."
— from Various scientific papers and interviews
"The universe is full of mysteries. The ribosome was just one I decided to tackle. Next up, perhaps the meaning of life, but that might be a bit too ambitious for a Tuesday."
— from Public Talk
All quotes by Ada Yonath (420)
We are made of the proteins that our ribosomes produce. In a way, the ribosome is the sculptor of life.
I always asked 'why' and 'how'. That is the essence of science.
Collaboration is key. No one scientist can solve big problems alone.
The structure of the ribosome is a fossil from the RNA world.
When you love what you do, it is not work.
The precision of the ribosome is astounding. It makes very few errors.
I am not a genius. I am just very, very curious and persistent.
Science is a dialogue with nature.
Understanding the ribosome helps us understand ourselves.
The Nobel Prize is not the finish line. It is a new beginning.
We used cryo-crystallography to freeze the ribosome in action. It was a technological breakthrough.
Do not be afraid to challenge dogma. That is how science progresses.
The ribosome is a huge molecule, but its active center is surprisingly small and elegant.
My childhood in Jerusalem was not easy, but it taught me resilience.
The fight against antibiotic resistance is a global responsibility.
In the ribosome, we see the history of evolution written in atoms.
A good scientist must also be a good storyteller, to explain complex things simply.
I am fascinated by the most fundamental questions of life. The ribosome is at the center of them all.
There is no replacement for hard work and careful observation.
The joy of discovery is the greatest joy a scientist can have.
Contemporaries of Ada Yonath
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Ada Yonath (1939).