Jonas Salk is the subject of today’s Google Doodle as the company celebrates what would have been his 100th birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1995.

Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, who is credited with discovering and developing the first successful inactivated polio vaccine. He went to New York University School of Medicine, where he is said to have stood out because of his academic abilities as well as the fact that he went into research rather than becoming a practicing physician.

When Salk developed his vaccine, polio was considered the scariest public health problem in the U.S. 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with paralysis from an epidemic in 1952. Most were children.

As far as the actual Doodle goes, I find it a bit difficult to identify the Google logo in this one. It’s one of the most difficult the company has ever displayed in my opinion. Still, it’s a very fitting image honoring someone that had a tremendous impact on the well-being of kids.

Images via Google, Wikimedia Commons