Afternoon Quote by Dorothy Hodgkin
“I used to say the evening that I developed the first x-ray photograph I took of insulin in 1935 was the most exciting moment of my life. But the Saturday afternoon in late July 1969, when we realized that the insulin electron density map was interpretable, runs that moment very close.”
About This Quote
Source Scientific Paper: Structure of Insulin, 1969, Nature
The quote reflects a scientist’s awe at two pivotal moments: creating the first X‑ray image of insulin and later interpreting its electron density map, both marking major breakthroughs.
In simple terms: Two key discoveries in insulin research gave deep excitement.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and celebrate each breakthrough.
Themes
science
discovery
perseverance
collaboration
Mood
reflective
inspired
analytical
Type
historical
scientific
motivational
When to use this quote
- research labs
- pharmaceutical development
- academic conferences
- teaching
- public outreach
Key Concepts
structural biology
X‑ray crystallography
protein chemistry
Questions to Reflect On
- What challenges did they face in interpreting the map?
- How does each breakthrough reshape scientific understanding?
A Different Perspective
Later interpretations can be limited by technology and data quality.
![“[X-ray's] accidental discovery in the late 1800s fits seamlessly into modernity's fascination with, and belief in, the power of technological transparency: the desire to domesticate time (cinema), to preserve and capture the surface of the fleeting (photography), to see inside (x-ray).” quote by Walead Beshty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bcc/walead-beshty-45594_belief_x-ray-s-accidental-discovery-in-the-late_1448388.jpg)
