Short answers, pulled from the story.
Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD on the 16th of November 1938 while searching for a respiratory stimulant derived from ergot fungus. This molecule was the 25th in a series of lysergamides he created and initially appeared inert and useless.
Albert Hofmann accidentally absorbed a small amount of the substance through his fingertips on the 19th of April 1943 while working in his laboratory. He experienced a state of intoxication so profound that he could not remain at work and had to be taken home by bicycle.
The Central Intelligence Agency launched Project MKUltra in 1953 to explore the potential of LSD for mind control and interrogation. The agency purchased the entire world supply of LSD for $240,000 and distributed it to hospitals, prisons, and research centers, often administering it to unwitting subjects.
LSD was classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States in 1970 following its association with the counterculture movement. This designation deemed the drug to have a high potential for abuse and no legitimate medical use, effectively ending its legal availability for research and therapy.
LSD exerts its effects primarily through high-affinity binding to the 5-HT2A receptor, which is responsible for the drug's psychedelic properties. The molecule's unique structure allows it to bind to these receptors with exceptional strength, leading to a prolonged residence time that accounts for the drug's long duration of action.