Gustavs Vanags was born in "Rungas" house of the Schnicken (Sniķeru) manor (now in Ukri Parish, Auce Municipality).

He received primary education in the Mitau Classic Gymnasium, and in 1910 enrolled Riga Polytechnic Institute.

Simultaneously he also worked in the State Institute of Organic Synthesis, where he carried out his research in the chemistry of cyclic β-diketones.

Gustavs Vanags, along with his students, designed and synthesized several compounds of notable application in medicine, agriculture and chemical analysis (omefin, bindon,[1] nitroindandione,[2] rhodenticide diphenadione or ratindan).

A commemorative plaque with bas-relief of G. Vanags is installed in the hall of Riga Technical University Faculty of Chemistry.