It was a great birthday for Gerhardt Ertl. He turned 71 today and was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. His award-winning research involved "surface chemistry", vital to the development of the catalytic converter, and our understanding of the vanishing ozone layer.
Professor Ertl spoke at a live press conference today, "It is the best birthday present that you can give somebody. I was really speechless."
Happy Birthday, Professor Ertl!
