Tu Youyou

Tu Youyou, born in Ningbo, China, is the kind of scientist who makes other scientists feel profoundly underachieving. While most of us are struggling to assemble IKEA furniture, Tu was busy isolating a compound from Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) that would become the cornerstone of modern malaria treatment. You know, just a small feat that only went on to save millions of lives globally. No big deal.

Her groundbreaking work began during the Cultural Revolution, a period not exactly known for its scientific advancement or general bonhomie. Under