BERNAL, JOHN DESMOND

born May 10, 1901, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ire. died Sept. 15, 1971, London physicist and X-ray crystallographer known for his studies of the atomic structures of solid compounds, during which he made major contributions to X-ray crystallography. He was professor of physics (193863) and of crystallography (196368) of the University of London. Bernal also conducted research into molecular biology, the origin of life, and the structure and composition of the Earth's crust.