What You Should Know About the Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world, given to people or organizations that have made remarkable contributions to humanity. Since it was first awarded in 1901, the Nobel Prize has recognized groundbreaking achievements in science, literature, and the pursuit of peace.

These awards were created following the wishes of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who wanted to leave a legacy of positive impact. As we approach the announcement of the 2024 Nobel winners, let’s take a look at some key facts about this famous prize and its creator.

Some Nobel Peace Prize winners couldn’t attend the ceremony

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, but sadly, not all laureates have been able to attend their own ceremony. Over the years, five winners have been prevented from receiving their award in person due to imprisonment or detention.

For example, Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist, was detained in a Nazi concentration camp when he won the prize in 1936. Similarly, in 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar was under house arrest and couldn’t attend, fearing she might not be allowed back home if she left the country.

Most recently, Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi celebrated her 2023 Peace Prize from a prison cell in Iran. These stories remind us of the courage it often takes to work for peace, even in the face of great personal risk.

The youngest and oldest Nobel laureates

Nobel Prizes can be awarded to people of any age, and history shows just how varied the winners can be. The youngest Nobel Prize winner is Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who fought for girls’ education. She was only 17 years old when she received the Peace Prize in 2014.

On the other end of the spectrum, the oldest laureate is John Goodenough, an American scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 at the age of 97 for his groundbreaking work on lithium-ion batteries. His work powers modern smartphones and electric cars, proving that great ideas can come at any age.

Posthumous awards are rare

The Nobel Foundation has a strict rule, the prize cannot be awarded posthumously. However, there are a few exceptions. If a winner dies between their name announcement and the award ceremony in December, they can still receive the prize.

One famous example is Ralph Steinman, a Canadian scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011. Unknown to the committee, Steinman had passed away just days before the announcement. In this rare case, the Nobel committee chose to honor him despite his passing.

Alfred Nobel was also a poet

Though Alfred Nobel is best known for inventing dynamite and establishing the Nobel Prizes, he had another lesser-known passion: poetry. Nobel loved writing poems, often in English, and was inspired by famous poets like Shelley and Byron. He didn’t consider himself a great poet, but he found writing to be a personal outlet to relieve stress and improve his English skills.

Interestingly, one of his final works was a play called Nemesis, based on a tragic story from the 16th century. This artistic side of Nobel shows that even the minds behind great scientific advancements often have creative talents too.

Hundreds of nominations every year

When it comes to the Nobel Prize in Literature, the competition is tough. Every year, about 300 people are nominated for the prize by former laureates, professors, and literary experts. 

The Swedish Academy, which decides the winner, carefully reviews each nomination, considering not only the literary achievements but also the cultural and social impact of the writers’ work.

Nominations have to be renewed annually, and self-nomination is not allowed, making it a process that requires recognition from others in the literary field.