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Nobel Prize awarded work

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2011

An unexpected discovery

When Dan Shechtman looked at the picture in his microscope he couldn’t believe his eyes. He had discovered a crystal with 5-fold symmetry – a form that was thought to be impossible. His new crystals, called quasicrystals, caused uproar, and eventually textbooks had to be rewritten across the globe.

Dan Shechtman in the lab.

Courtesy Dan Shechtman

Nobel Prize laureates share their stories

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008

A blossoming interest in chemistry

The foundation for our future is laid during childhood. Our view of the world is formed and our interests crystallized in our youth. This is evident in a notebook kept by 2008 chemistry laureate Roger Tsien when he was eight years old.

Read Roger Tsien’s story.

Roger Tsien's notebook — A page of sketches of chemistry experiments Roger Tsien copied from a book when he was eight years old. Tsien's blossoming interest in chemistry is evident in the drawing.

Photo: Nobel Prize Museum

From the archives

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019

”This is a truly great achievement for the benefit of humankind”

Watch the moment pioneer in sustainability, John Goodenough, received his chemistry prize on 10 December 2019.

Nobel Prize Conversations

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1995

“I had decided as a child if it was possible to become a scientist and to do scientific research for a living that’s what I wanted to do”

In this podcast episode, we meet physical chemist Mario Molina who spent his life working on climate research. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1995 for his investigations into how CFC gases damage the ozone layer.

Nobel Week 2023

6–12 December

Nobel Week is coming

The Nobel Week takes place on 6–12 December in Stockholm and Oslo. Many of the events will be streamed and possible to follow online.

Nobel Prize award ceremony 2022 — Nobel Prize award ceremony in Konserthuset Stockholm, 10 December 2022.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Nanaka Adachi

What do the laureates receive?

Nobel Prize diploma

Each diploma is a unique work of art, created by leading Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers. Read more about the diplomas here.

Physics Laureate Donna Strickland's diploma. — Physics laureate Donna Strickland's diploma.

Photo reproduction: Lovisa Engblom

Nobel Prize medal

The front of the gold Nobel Prize medals depict Alfred Nobel. The image on the reverse varies according to the institution awarding the prize. Read more about the medals.

Youyou Tu showing her Nobel Medal — Medicine laureate Tu Youyou showing her Nobel Prize medal, 11 December 2015.

© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud.

The prize amount

The current amount is at SEK 11 million per full Nobel Prize. A Nobel Prize can be awarded to up to three laureates who share the prize sum. Find out more about the prize amounts throughout history.

Laureates on stage after the 2014 Nobel Prize award ceremony.

© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud

Memories from the Nobel Week

Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, chemistry 2016

"Unforgettable"

Fraser Stoddart: “One of the great joys of Stockholm was spending time with my co-laureates”.

Linda Buck and Richard Axel, medicine 2004

"A once in a lifetime experience"

Linda Buck and Richard Axel share some of their memories of the Nobel Week 2004.

John Nash, economic sciences 1994

"I have many memories"

Listen to John Nash reminisce about his experience of a December week in Sweden.

Reinhard Selten, economic sciences 1994

"I began to feel that this is real"

It wasn’t until the 10 December Reinhard Selten felt that his prize was for real.

Kurt Wüthrich, chemistry 2002

"One of the greatest week's in a scientist's life"

Kurt Wüthrich recalls how the overwhelming media coverage made the week very intensive.

John B. Fenn, chemistry 2002

"It was wonderful"

John B. Fenn on his Nobel Week experience: “It was wonderful! I even enjoyed being sick there.”

Robert Curl, chemistry 1996

"I became increasingly nervous"

At the award ceremony Robert Curl became extremely nervous.

William Sharpe, economic sciences 1990

"It was truly magical"

William Sharpe brought an extended family to the festivities in Stockholm.

Message from peace laureate Narges Mohammadi

Nobel Peace Prize 2023

”I am grateful to all of you and urge you to support the people of Iran until the final victory. Victory is not easy, but it is certain”

2023 peace laureate Narges Mohammadi has asked that her daughter Kiana deliver a message that she has managed to smuggle out of prison in Tehran, Iran.

Read a translation of the message here

Enjoy some reading

Nobel Prize in Literature 2021

”Before maps the world was limitless”

Abdulrazak Gurnah, 2021 Nobel Prize laureate in literature, reads an excerpt from his book By the Sea. He was filmed in his home in Kent, England in December 2021.

Nobel Prizes 2023

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

Electrons in pulses of light

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.”

Illustration of two electrons, illustrating the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

They added colour to nanotechnology

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexey Yekimov “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.”

An illustration of a bucket of paint with coloured balls beneath it, representing quantum dots. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

Vaccine development

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 was awarded jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman “for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.”

A blue background with COVID-19 virus and a yellow strand of modified mRNA. Also shown is the chemical structure of pseudouridine, an RNA base that was important in the prize-awarded discovery. The graphic represents the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Katalin Karinkó and Drew Weissman who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. — © The Nobel Committe for Physiology or Medicine. Ill. Mattias Karlén

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023

Stories depicting strong emotions that many can relate to

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 was awarded to Jon Fosse, “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.”

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023

A courageous fight for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023 was awarded to Narges Mohammadi “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023

History helps us understand gender differences in the labour market

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023 was awarded to Claudia Goldin “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.”

A detective investigating a file cabinet, accompanied by a golden retriever. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

2023 Nobel Prizes

Crash course – 2023 Nobel Prizes

How much do you know about the discoveries awarded the 2023 Nobel Prizes? Take our one-minute crash course on each of the prizes and find out how each have changed our world.

Nobel Prize lessons

Easy to use lessons about the 2023 Nobel Prizes

From nanotechnology to the development of effective mRNA vaccines. Now you can bring the discoveries and achievements made by the 2023 Nobel Prize laureates into the classroom.

The lessons are free and easy to use. They include a slideshow, manuscript and student worksheet.

Illustration of all 2023 Nobel Prizes — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, © The Nobel Committe for Physiology or Medicine. Ill. Mattias Karlén, Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach

Alfred Nobel – Established the Nobel Prizes

Scientist and inventor

Chemist, engineer and industrialist Alfred Nobel left 31 million SEK (today about 342 million dollars) to fund the Nobel Prizes.

A bust of Alfred Nobel, surrounded by a beautiful wall of flowers

Alfred Nobel's early years

When Alfred was five years old his father Immanuel, an inventor and builder, moved to St. Petersburg. Alfred joined him a few years later.

Inventing dynamite

Based on Alfred’s work and patents a whole new industry developed. Within ten years, 16 explosives producing factories had been founded in 14 countries.

A controversial will

In his will of 27 November 1895, signed in Paris, Alfred Nobel specified that the bulk of his fortune should be used for prizes.

Nobel Prize facts

Last year's laureates

14 laureates were awarded Nobel Prizes in 2022. See a short presentation of them here.

Nobel Prizes to women

See the list of all women awarded a Nobel Prize or a prize in economic sciences so far.

Annie Ernaux after receiving her Nobel Prize — 2022 literature laureate Annie Ernaux.

Photo: Nanaka Adachi

Oldest laureate

John B. Goodenough was the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize when he received the chemistry prize in 2019 for developing lithium ion batteries.

Youngest laureate

Youngest Nobel Prize laureate ever is Malala Yousafzai. She was 17 years old when she was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

Nobel Prize nominations

Who can nominate for a Nobel Prize?

No person can nominate herself/himself for a Nobel Prize. But who can? And how are these persons chosen?

Jane Addams nomination for Carl von Ossietzky

Who selects the laureates?

In his last will and testament, Alfred Nobel specifically designated the institutions responsible for the prizes he wished to be established.

Explore the nomination archive

Search among the names of the nominees and nominators, as well as additional information about the nominations 1901-1971.

Mahatma Gandhi – The missing laureate

Mohandas Gandhi has become the strongest symbol of non-violence in the 20th century. He was nominated several times, but was never awarded the prize. Why?

Play a game!

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1930

The Blood Typing Game

How much do you know about blood types? Did you know that human blood groups were discovered by Nobel Prize laureate Karl Landsteiner in 1901?

Learn more about the way to find out about the human blood groups, blood typing and the importance of safe blood transfusions. See if you can save the lives of the patients in the game!

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1904

Pavlov's Dog

Is it possible to train a dog to drool on command? Learn about conditioned reflexes in this interactive game!

With this animated game, teachers are able to illustrate classical conditioning in the classroom. The object of the game is to train Pavlov’s dog to respond to a signal that it will associate with being fed.

In 1904, Ivan Pavlov was awarded with Nobel Prize for his pioneering studies of how the digestive system works.

Peace Builders

Step into the shoes of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and learn about the legacy of Alfred Nobel in this immersive learning experience from the Nobel Peace Center. All Minecraft players can now journey alongside Desmond Tutu, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Jody Williams and Carl von Ossietzky to bring their vision of a more democratic, peaceful world to life.

Nobel destinations

Stockholm, Sweden

Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, illustrates a century of creativity, where visitors can follow the changes of the 20th century through the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Prize laureates.

The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing the World (3) — The museum showcases the discoveries and creativity of the Nobel Prize laureates.

Photo: Åke Eson Lindman

Oslo, Norway

Nobel Peace Center

Located in the heart of Oslo, Norway, the Nobel Peace Center is a place where you can experience and learn about the various Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

NPC Nye Nobels Hage 10 — The story of each peace laureate is told at the museum.

Photo: Johannes Granseth/Nobel Peace Center

In memoriam

Henry Kissinger passes away at 100

Henry Kissinger passed away on 29 November, age 100. Kissinger was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Le Duc Tho, for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam in 1973.

Read Henry Kissinger’s acceptance speech

Former President Martti Ahtisaari dies

Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, died on 16 October 2023, age 86. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2008 for his great efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.

Biography

Poet Louise Glück passes away at 80

Louise Glück passed away on 13 October 2023, age 80. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.”

Biography

Ferid Murad 1936‒2023

Ferid Murad passed away on 4 September 2023. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998 for discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. These discoveries opened new avenues for patient treatment and diagnoses of various diseases.

Read Ferid Murad’s biography

Nobel Prize lectures 2023

The Future of Migration

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