image: Bicycle Day (April 19) honors chemist Albert Hoffman's colorful journey after he accidentally discovered LSD. Chemists had discovered a migraine medicine made from a fungus. Continuing this work, Hoffman discovered lysergic acid diethylamine, or LSD. In April 1943, he accidentally exposed himself to LSD in the lab and felt dizzy with visual distortions. After a second similar exposure, he left for home early via bicycle. New research on LSD may lead to pharmaceutical therapies: Watch the latest Reactions video here: https://youtu.be/L32mAiLXnLs. view more
Credit: The American Chemical Society
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 -- Bicycle Day on April 19 honors not the two-wheeled mode of transportation, but the colorful ride taken by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman who accidentally discovered LSD 74 years ago. In search of new medicines, Hoffman was trying to stabilize lysergic acid, a derivative of a fungal compound used in a migraine medicine. He ended up synthesizing a compound called lysergic acid diethylamine, or LSD. Later, he accidentally exposed himself to it and felt dizzy with hallucinations. On April 19, 1943, he tested it on himself again and needed a lab assistant to help him home, via bicycle, leading to a memorable ride. While recreational drug abuse led to bans on psychedelics in the 1970s, new research indicates Hoffman was onto something in his search for medicines that led to LSD. The approach may now yield potential mental health treatments: Watch the latest Reactions video here: https://youtu.be/L32mAiLXnLs.
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