Celebrating African-American chemists during Black History Month -- and year round

Mention "peanuts," and people usually think, "crunch!" And "munch." Farmers grow more than 2 million tons of peanuts in the United States each year. That's enough to fill almost 140,000 dump trucks. Most of those peanuts do go into our mouths. We eat them by the handful, in peanut butter, and in candy.

An amazing African-American chemist named George Washington Carver got people started on using peanuts in other ways. Carver invented 300 different uses for the peanut. In doing so, he gave people new products, such as peanut oil for cooking. Carver's work also enabled farmers in the South to grow a new crop on soil worn-out from years of raising cotton.

Thanks to Carver, we now use peanuts to make paints, varnishes, lubricating oil, furniture polish, insecticides, soaps, cosmetics, and many other products. And don't forget those yummy PB&J sandwiches.

George Washington Carver (ca. 1864-1943) is just one of many great African American scientists. Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their contributions. The American Chemical Society (ACS) has singled out Carver and two other African American scientists for a very special honor. ACS is showcasing their contributions in its National Historic Chemical Landmarks (www.acs.org/landmarks) program.

The second chemist is Percy Julian (1899-1975). Thanks to Julian, millions of people around the world can see. Julian invented a medicine to treat a serious eye disease called glaucoma. This disease causes loss of vision and blindness. ACS's third landmark is really sweet. It honors Norbert Rillieux (1806-1894). He invented a process that made sugar easier to produce from sugar cane, and less expensive for people to buy.

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ACS, the world's largest scientific society, established the landmarks program in 1992 to make people more aware of important events — landmarks — in the history of chemistry. These African-American chemists, and other great black scientists, have improved our lives. That's something to celebrate not just in February, but year round.

The American Chemical Society — the world's largest scientific society — is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

*The information in this press release is from copyrighted publications, and stories must mention or credit the American Chemical Society.