Kamen, Martin David

Lead Author: Cutler J. Cleveland (other articles)
Article Topics: Biographies, Botany, Energy people, Environmental chemistry and Environmental history
This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Editor: Peter Saundry (other articles)
Last Updated: December 18, 2009

Martin David Kamen, (1913–2002), a Canadian-born American biochemist who discovered carbon-14, the radioactive isotope of carbon used to trace biochemical pathways and mechanisms and to date archeological and anthropological objects. He also carried out extensive research in photosynthesis. Kamen used the isotope oxygen-18 to trace the chemical's role in the process, confirming that that the oxygen created during photosynthesis comes only from the water molecules. Unfortunately, much of his energy at this time was diverted to non-scientific matters; a successful but protracted libel suit against the Chicago Tribune, which falsely accused him of being a communist, as well as a successful, 7-year battle to recover his passport, which had been rescinded by the U.S. government.

Further Reading
Martin Kamen, Who Discovered Carbon-14, Wins Fermi Award (U. S. Department of Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
The Enrico Fermi Award - Martin D. Kamen, 1995 (U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science)

Citation
Cleveland, Cutler (Lead Author); Peter Saundry (Topic Editor). 2009. "Kamen, Martin David." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth January 17, 2009; Last revised December 18, 2009; Retrieved February 9, 2010]. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Kamen,_Martin_David>
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