Carl Djerassi (91), Chemist

Carl Djerassi, a Jewish chemist, died at age 91 on Friday.

Djerassi's research, together with Luis E. Miramontes and George Rosenkranz in Mexico City, into the molecule progestin norethisterone resulted in the invention of the oral contraceptive.

Djerassi was born in Vienna in 1923, but grew up in Bulgaria. He moved to the US in 1939.

He also patented one of the first commercial antihistamines.

He died on January 31, 2015 from complications of liver and bone cancer.