Raymond Pearl (June 3, 1879 - November 17, 1940) was an American biologist. He was a prolific writer of academic books, papers and articles, as well as a committed popularizer and communicator of science. At his death, 841 publications were listed against his name. He became interested in Mendelian inheritance, a scientific theory of how hereditary characteristics are passed from parent organisms to their offspring that underlies much of genetics. In 1927 published the landmark article The Biology of Superiority, which attacked the basic assumptions of eugenics. Pearl is regarded as one of founders of biogerontology, a sub-field of gerontology concerned with the biological processes of aging. It involves interdisciplinary research on biological aging's causes, effects, and mechanisms. In 1926, his book, Alcohol and Longevity, demonstrated that drinking alcohol in moderation is associated with greater longevity than either abstaining or drinking heavily. In 1938, his data and work demonstrated the negative health effects of smoking tobacco. In November 1940 Pearl was in apparently good health and paid a visit to the Baltimore Zoo. He cut his trip short complaining of chest pains and died later that day.