Friday Fun: Happy Birthday, Percy

Today's Google Doodle honors the 115th birthday of Percy Julian, chemical entrepreneur and first to synthesize physostigmine:

Note that, with the exception of the (ugh) "resonance circle" of the aromatic core, that physo structure is spot on! Ditto cortisone, on the left, for which Julian developed one of the first commercial-scale processes.

Want more? This NOVA special tells it well (thanks, Dr. Ru!). Highly recommended.