Chemistry and the World of Tomorrow

Thirty-five years ago I gave a talk at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society with the title "Chemistry and the World of Today." This was my presidential address to ACS. I began by asking "What can I say under the title 'Chemistry and the World of Today'? My answer to this question is that I can say anything, discuss any feature of modern life, because every aspect of the world today—even politics and international relations—is affected by chemistry." In my address I pointed out that during the years of World War II we began using up in practical applications our backlog of new basic discoveries, and it became clear that, although all scientists make their contributions to scientific progress, modern life is really based on fundamental science, on pure research, and that the nature of the world today has been determined, and the nature of the world of the future will be determined, ...