Nobel laureate David Baltimore dead at 87

David Baltimore, a Nobel laureate and renowned molecular biologist, passed away at the age of 87. Baltimore's pioneering work in virology and immunology earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975. He was known for weathering a controversial scientific misconduct investigation in the late 1980s, which ultimately led to his resignation as president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Despite this setback, Baltimore remained a respected figure in the scientific community and continued to make significant contributions to the field. His research into the mechanisms of viral infection and the immune system's response to pathogens laid the foundation for advancements in fields like AIDS research and cancer biology. Baltimore's death marks the loss of a highly influential figure in the history of molecular biology and a testament to the resilience and determination that defined his illustrious career.