YouTube Chemist, father of Viagra knighted

03 January 2015 - 10:52 By Times LIVE
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Two chemists, one noted for his series of YouTube videos, and another for kicking off the discovery of Viagra have just received knighthoods.

Prof Martyn Poliakoff, a pioneer in sustainable energy who is also known for his youtube series the Periodic Table of Videos, told BBC that "excited and slightly overwhelmed" by the knighthood.

Poliakoff credits part of his success to the fact that he looks like a mad scientist.

"Even I have to admit that I look like... what people imagine scientists to look like," he said.

Viagra pioneer

Dr Simon Campbell is associated with three new drugs in his 26-year stint with Pfizer, the last of which producing a side effect which boosted blood flow to the penis.

While the drug was originally designed to help deal with high blood pressure, it hit the market as Viagra.

Campbell is quick to point out that he didn't invent the drug, but says, "If you want, I would say I was the father of Viagra because I laid the seed and started the project."

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