Rita Levi-Montalcini was born on April 22, 1909, in Turin, Italy. She was a pioneering Italian neurologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 for her discovery of nerve growth factor. Levi-Montalcini overcame gender discrimination to pursue a career in science, conducting groundbreaking research on the development of the nervous system. She continued her work well into her later years, advocating for science education and women's rights. Levi-Montalcini passed away on December 30, 2012, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and inspiration.