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The grandson of Alabama slaves, Percy Julian met with every possible barrier in a deeply segregated America. He was a man of genius, devotion, and determination. As a black man he was also an outsider, fighting to make a place for himself in a profession and country divided by bigotry—a man who would eventually find freedom in the laboratory.

The story of how African-American Percy Julian defied the odds to become a famous chemist.

Forgotten Genius

Black chemist Percy Julian met with every possible barrier in a deeply segregated America. Here's how he rose to the highest levels of scientific and personal achievement.

It took Black chemist Percy Julian more than 10 years to earn his Ph.D.

How Percy Julian Became a Great 20th Century Scientist

the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The National Science Foundation

National Endowment for the Humanities

Koch Foundation

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Dr. Percy Julian was a man of genius, devotion, and determination. The grandson of enslaved people from Alabama, Dr. Percy Julian met with every possible barrier in a deeply racist and segregated America. As one of the first Black chemists, he fought to make a place for himself in a profession and country divided by bigotry. At the height of his career, Dr. Julian had reached unparalleled levels of scientific and personal achievement, overcoming countless obstacles to become a world-class scientist, a self-made millionaire, and a civil rights pioneer.

Against all odds, African-American chemist Percy Julian became one of the great scientists of the 20th century.

United Soybean Board

University of Illinois

Oak Park resident

Chemist, DePauw University

Chemist, Glidden and Julian Laboratories

DePauw University alumnus

Stanford University

Lehigh University

Chemist, Julian Research Institute

Chicago journalist

CBS radio host

University of California, San Francisco

Chemist, Julian Laboratories

Chemist, Glidden

Georgia Institute of Technology

Brandeis University

Rheumatologist, Mount Sinai Hospital

Oak Park sociologist

University of Georgia

Columbia College, Chicago

General Manager, Julian Laboratories

National Institutes of Health

Against all odds, African American chemist Percy Julian became one of the great scientists of the 20th century.

Physics & Math

NOVA investigates the story of cannabis from the criminalization that has disproportionately harmed communities of color to the latest medical understanding of the plant. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing brain? How much do we know about its potential medical benefits? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are exploring its long-term health consequences. (Premiered September 29, 2021)Check out a previously recorded panel discussion and audience Q&amp;A featuring experts and producers from "The Cannabis Question" <a href="https://youtu.be/nSTT5RZ_hxA">here</a>.

As state-legalized cannabis spreads, NOVA explores its little-known risks and benefits.

The Cannabis Question

A 2006 composite image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Telescope shows the chaos of baby stars in the Orion nebula some 1,500 light-years away. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI

With the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble era is gradually drawing to a close. Here are some highlights from the countless wonders Hubble has shown us during its 31 years in space.

10 spectacular Hubble Space Telescope images

A statue of Zheng He at the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Java, Indonesia. Image Credit: Budianto Santosa, Shutterstock

In the 1400s, Zheng He sailed thousands of miles around Asia and Africa in ships the size of soccer fields, spreading Chinese innovations like compasses and gunpowder in the process.

Forgotten Genius

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Explore More

Percy Julian the trailblazer

How the stress of racism can harm your health—and what that has to do with Covid-19

Exploring the Life and Legacy of Percy Julian

Forgotten Genius

Hunting the Elements

How Percy Julian Became a Great 20th Century Scientist

Beyond the Elements

The Joys and Challenges of Birding While Black