Katharine Burr Blodgett kept an inner struggle out of sight as she made history in the laboratory
image via New Scientist
March 5, 2026, 4:00 PM
- •Katharine Blodgett, a pioneering chemist and physicist, faced hidden mental health struggles during her career.
- •Her personal papers revealed a long history of dealing with voices and navigating mental health challenges.
- •Blodgett meticulously documented her inner experiences, treating herself as a subject of scientific inquiry.
- •The article highlights the courage of Blodgett, who continued to excel in science despite her inner turmoil.
This article delves into the hidden struggles of chemist and physicist Katharine Burr Blodgett, revealing her inner battles that she kept concealed throughout her career. Through the discovery of personal papers and notebooks, the article uncovers Blodgett's experiences with mental health issues, including voices and struggles with ambition, which she carefully managed while making groundbreaking scientific achievements. It explores how she navigated these challenges, the treatments she sought, and how she meticulously documented her inner experiences as a scientist of herself. This sheds new light on her life, revealing the complexities of her inner world alongside her scientific accomplishments.
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