What contributions did Albert Hofmann make to science?
He was a Swiss medicinal chemist and worked at Sandoz pharmaceuticals in Basel, Switzerland. He discovered the chemical structure of chitin. He did research on the ergot fungus, which grows on rye, for medicines to use for migraines and postpartum hemorrhaging. He used the core nucleus of the ergot alkaloids, lysergic acid, to add functional radical groups. One derivative he synthesized was called methylergonovine, sold by Sandoz under the brand name of methergine, a breakthrough in medicine to use for postpartum hemorrhage and is still used today. In 1938, on the 25th derivative of lysergic acid, Dr. Hofmann added the diethylamide functional group, thereby, creating lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated as LSD-25. Initially, LSD-25 was medically uninteresting and it was shelved until 1943. At that time, he returned to synthesize and study the compound again and accidentally became exposed to the drug on April 16th and felt some of the effects. On April 19th, Dr. Hofmann self-dosed with 250 micrograms of LSD-25, taking the first LSD trip and discovering its psychedelic properties. The rest is history. Dr. Albert Hofmann's work revolutionized neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and ethnobotany. Thanks to Dr. Hofmann for laying the groundwork for the modern study of psychedelics.