A pair of oranges find a place of pride on the Google home page in commemoration of the 118th birthday of Albert Szent-Györgyi. The Hungarian physiologist credited with discovering vitamin C and also the components and reactions of the citric acid cycle was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937.
Born in Budapest, Austro-Hungary on September 16, 1893, Szent-Györgyi's family included three generations of scientists. Prior to the First World War Szent-Györgyi studied at the Semmelweis University, but showed more interest in his uncle's anatomy lab. During the war he served as an army medic but managed to take leave from military service on medical grounds. On his return from the war, Szent-Györgyi finished his medical degree.
During his research career Szent-Györgyi worked in a number of universities. He was awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1937 for "For his discoveries in connection with the biological combustion process with special reference to vitamin C and the catalysis of fumaric acid".
