Spinach on the ceiling: a theoretical chemist's return to biology.

I was born in Vienna and came to the United States as a refugee in October 1938. This experience played an important role in my view of the world and my approach to science: It contributed to my realization that it was safe to stop working in fields that I felt I understood and to focus on different areas of research by asking questions that would teach me and others something new. I describe my experiences that led me from chemistry and physics back to my first love, biology, and outline some of the contributions I have made as part of my ongoing learning experience.