Video: Most extravagant Nobel laureate: How Rita Levi-Montalcini lived to be 103 without losing her love for life
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Rita Levi-Montalcini was an outstanding neuroscientist and the oldest Nobel laureate: having lived to 103 years old, she was never married, never complained about obstacles and difficulties, never lost her love of life and sense of humor. She pursued scientific research against her father's wishes and Mussolini's prohibition, and achieved worldwide acclaim and legendary fame.
Rita Levi-Montalcini was born in 1909 in Italy, into an intelligent Jewish family: her mother was an artist, and her father was a mathematician and electrical engineer. Four children were brought up in patriarchal traditions: the father believed that girls should not engage in science and think about a career, since a woman should “be wise - not for self-development, but for self-denial”. Against his will, Rita independently mastered Latin and biology and entered the medical school of the University of Turin.
At the age of 27, Rita Levi-Montalcini received a degree in medicine, four years later - another, with a specialization in psychiatry and neurology. Her interest in neuroembryology was aroused by the famous scientist Giuseppe Levi, for whom she worked as an assistant. In 1938, Mussolini issued a "Racial Manifesto" that prohibited Jews from pursuing an academic and professional career, and Rita's laboratory moved to her apartment, where she continued her experiments on chicken embryos. "" - said Rita. She was able to return to normal working conditions only after 1945.
Soon, American scientists became interested in the results of Rita Levi-Montalcini's research, and the famous neuroscientist Victor Hamburger invited her to work at the zoological department of the University of St. Louis. They were able to prove that a certain stimulating substance acts on the growth of nerves, which they called a growth factor for nerve tissue. Her work has been instrumental in the study of cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In 1986, Professor Levi-Montalcini won the Nobel Prize in Medicine "".
Having lived for over 100 years, Rita has never been married and left no heirs. She never aspired to family life and claimed that her life was already "". Throughout her life, she was engaged in charity work and supporting young scientists. In her house, parties were often held, during which the hostess amazed the guests with her love of life and wit.
Her statements often became aphorisms and diverged into quotations. In photographs, she could often be seen with a glass of wine, which she explained as follows: "". When she was asked about when to drink water, she replied: "".
At her 100th birthday celebration, Rita Levi-Montalcini announced that her mind has retained its sharpness and clarity, and that she continues to devote several hours daily to research work. "". In 2001, she became a senator for life - a title in Italy can only be awarded to former presidents and citizens who have glorified the country with their achievements in the field of art and science.
She died in her sleep at the 104th year of her life, forever remaining in the history of science under the name of "the lady of the cells." On the eve of her 100th birthday, she said: "".
The achievements of women scientists in the field of medicine are admirable: how a Soviet female microbiologist overcame cholera and found a universal antibiotic.
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