When the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to German chemist Fritz Haber in 1919 for solving one of humanity’s greatest problems, it caused a major stir in the scientific community. Haber’s work is, without a doubt, responsible for the lives of four billion people today, but his legacy is marred by tragedy and controversy.
When Haber received the Nobel, many scientists boycotted his award ceremony. Two Nobel laureates rejected their own prizes in protest, while The New York Times condemned him. Haber was hailed as savior to some and condemned as villain by others.
There are few people in history who have shaped the modern world as deeply as Haber, so why is he such a contentious topic? Click on to find out.