There's a widely held belief that certain government-banned stimulants can spur the creativity of a person to such an extent that that person would then come up with scientific discoveries that affect all of humanity.
It is said that no small number of history's greatest geniuses regularly used drugs, and All That Is Interesting gives us the 5 discoveries that we owe to the insight received from drugs.
DNA
The double helix was discovered by Nobel laureate Francis Crick, a pioneer in genetic research. But it's also no secret that the brilliant scientist often used LSD. Crick himself even admitted to coworkers that he took the drug to stimulate his brain function. During the 60s he led a group fighting for the legalization of cannabis.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Dr. Kary Banks Mullis also used LSD frequently and while under the drug's effects made a discovery that fundamentally changed molecular biology at the time.
In 1993 he won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of polymerase chain reaction, which makes it easier to test DNA. In his interviews he has always said that he probably never would have made the find had he not been taking LSD.
Freud's theories
Everything that we know about psychoanalysis, consciousness, subconsciousness, sexuality and dreams, are all theories which Sigmund Freud developed while using cocaine on a regular basis.
In 1884 he even put out his publication Über Coca (About Cocaine), in which he praises the substance, saying it could cure various psychological and physical disorders.
Coca-Cola
The soda familiar to everyone was created in 1886 by John Pemberton, who was under the influence of cocaine. Pemberton was a passionate admirer of the drug and believed that it helped him alleviate his physical disorders.
The 10 Commandments
Prof. Benny Shanon from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is convinced that if the myth about Moses was actually true, then the 10 Commandments were written while he was under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms. In biblical times they were very common in the mountains.
