Can you patent the Sun?

Source-https://www.salk.edu/about/history-of-salk/jonas-salk/

Today world is facing a major crisis in the form of COVID-19 caused by Corona virus. Countries across the world are trying their best to contain this pandemic. Also there are news meanwhile that some companies are trying hard to invent the vaccine for COVID-19 and earn the windfall gains. In these circumstances and specially on this day i.e. 26th March, it is worthwhile to remember Dr. Jonas Salk who invented the Polio Vaccine on this day in 1953.

Coming from a very humble background Jonas became the first from his family to attend the college. In 1947, Salk was appointed as Director of Virus Research Laboratory at The University of Pittsburgh. There he started the research for developing a vaccine against Polio which used to paralyze lakhs of kids by then. Even Franklin D. Roosevelt was also diagnosed with Polio. 

In 1953, Salk finally came up with the vaccine after successful human trials. And how did he conducted the trials? On himself, his wife and on his three children. On March 26, 1953, Salk announced on national radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that caused Polio. The number of cases of Polio dramatically reduced since then and demand for the vaccine across the world spiraled. 

And why Salk is worth remembering is that he never patented the vaccine and made it freely available for humanity. On 12th April 1955, the legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Morrow interviewed its creator and asked who owned the patent. “Well, the people, I would say,” responded Salk. “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” he said further. Many lawyers persuaded him to get the patent but Salk firmly denied that. Salk's life philosophy can be summarized with his famous quote "Hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality."  

Dr. Salk world needs you today, badly!