For those interested. Here are 15 facts about the Nobel? If you scroll down, you will also notice the "Will" of Alfred Nobel.
Does anyone know why the Nobel for Economics was added later on - since Alfred Nobel did not specifically indicate one for Economics? --Ram ___________________________________________ http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes *.* Robert Lucas, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on the theory of "rational expectations," split his $1 million prize<http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/nobel/1995/1995f.html>with his ex-wife. If there were a Nobel Prize for Foresight or Timing, I'd nominate her, based on a clause in their divorce settlement from seven years earlier: "Wife shall receive 50 percent of any Nobel Prize." But the clause expired on October 31, 1995. Had Lucas won any year after, he would have kept the whole million. [image: dynasty.jpg]*2.* Physicist Lise Meitner, whose work helped lead to the discovery of nuclear fission, was reportedly nominated for the Nobel Prize 13 times without ever winning<http://discovermagazine.com/2006/oct/20-things-nobel-prizes>. This makes her the *Dynasty* of the Nobel Prize scene (the show was nominated for 24 Emmy Awards <http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/7940> but never won). Other analogies we'd accept: *The Color Purple* (11 Oscar nominations in 1985, no wins) and William Jennings Bryan (three-time Democratic nominee for President, losing twice to McKinley and once to Taft.) *3.* In 2007, two winners had a combined age of 177. At 90, professor Leonid Hurwicz is the oldest person to ever win (one-third of the Prize in Economics); at 87, writer Doris Lessing is the oldest woman (Literature). *Keep reading for duels, sex scandals, overlooked legends and flat-out refusals*. *[image: Mullis2.jpg]4.* DNA expert Kary Mullis – 1993 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry – was scheduled to be a defense witness<http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/11/reviews/981011.11teresit.html?_r=1&oref=slogin>in O.J. Simpson's murder trial. However, Simpson lawyer Barry Scheck felt the prosecution's DNA case was already essentially destroyed, and he didn't want Mullis' personal life to distract jurors (read: he'd expressed an affinity for LSD and surfing.) *5.* In the last ten years, the Nobel Prize in Literature has gone for the first time to authors in Portugal, China, Trinidad & Tobago, Hungary, Austria and Turkey *[source] <http://review.antioch.edu/bidetail.php?id=56>* . *[image: einstein.jpeg]6.* Nobel Laureates you must know: Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Elie Wiesel, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Jimmy Carter, Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Beckett, Pierre & Marie Curie, Max Planck and Albert Einstein (====>). *7.* Big names who never won: Leo Tolstoy, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Marcel Proust, Mangesh Hattikudur, Mark Twain, Gertrude Stein, Paul Tagliabue, Henrik Ibsen, Thomas Edison and Mahatma Gandhi. *8.* The following people refused the Prize: [image: kissinger_tho.jpg]• Le Duc Tho was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize with Henry Kissinger for their roles in brokering a Vietnam cease fire at the Paris Peace Accords. Citing the absence of actual peace in Vietnam, Tho declined to accept. • Jean Paul Sartre waved off the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature. His explanation <http://www.sartre.org/biography.htm>: "It is not the same thing if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre or if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre, Nobel Prize winner. A writer must refuse to allow himself to be transformed into an institution, even if it takes place in the most honorable form." • Afraid of Soviet retribution, Boris Pasternak declined to accept the 1958 Prize in Literature, which he'd earned for *Doctor Zhivago*. The Academy refused his refusal<http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1958/press.html>. "This refusal, of course, in no way alters the validity of the award. There remains only for the Academy, however, to announce with regret that the presentation of the Prize cannot take place." • Erik Axel Karlfeldt won for Literature in 1918. He did not accept because he was Secretary of the Swedish Academy, which awards the prize. He was given the award posthumously<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9044732/Erik-Axel-Karlfeldt>in 1931. *9.* As part of his divorce settlement, Einstein's Nobel Prize money went to his ex-wife, Mileva Maric. *10.* Winners without the greatest reputations: • Daniel Carleton Gajdusek, who won in 1976 for his research in human slow-virus infections, spent 19 months in jail after pleading guilty in 1997 to charges of child molestation. • Johannes Fibiger won in 1926 after discovering parasitic worms cause cancer – a breakthrough that turned out to not be true. [image: arafat.jpg]• Yasser Arafat shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. This decision caused Nobel Committee member Kare Kristiansen to resign<http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/nobel/1994/1994c.html>. "What consequences will result," he asked at the time, "when a terrorist with such a background is awarded the world's most prestigious prize?" • William Shockley won for Physics in 1956 for his role in the invention of the semiconductor. But his support of the eugenics<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics>movement alienated the scientific community<http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19025551.500-the-rise-and-fall-of-william-shockley.html>. Shockley also donated sperm to the Repository for Germinal Choice, a sperm bank developed to spread humanity's best genes (*Slate*<http://slate.com/id/100331/>did a great series on this in 2001.) *11.* The first Nobel Laureates collected 150,800 Swedish kronor<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,91819-1,00.html>(about $15,420 today). The stakes have been raised. This year's prize was $1.5 million – shared in the case of multiple winners. [image: MarieCurie.jpg]*12.* The Curie family is a Nobel Prize machine, winning five: Pierre and Marie (==>) for Physics in 1901; Marie solo for Chemistry in 1911; daughter Irene and her husband Frédéric Joliot-Curie for Chemistry in 1935; and Henry Labouisse – Irene's daughter Eve's second husband – accepted on behalf of UNICEF in 1965. No family has won more. *13.* Marie Curie's second prize was marred by scandal. Then a widow, Curie had an affair with a married scientist, Paul Langevin – a former pupil of Pierre Curie. Love letters were involved, eventually leading to a duel between Langevin and the editor of the newspaper that had printed them (no shots were actually fired<http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/articles/curie/index.html>.) When it was suggested that she not accept the prize, she wrote a shrewd letter, in which "she pointed out that she had been awarded the Prize for her discovery of radium and polonium, and that she could not accept the principle that appreciation of the value of scientific work should be influenced by slander concerning a researcher's private life." * 14.* Alfred Nobel – inventor of dynamite – may have been inspired to create the Nobel Prize after a premature obituary in a French newspaper called him a "merchant of death."<http://discovermagazine.com/2006/oct/20-things-nobel-prizes> *15.* Nobel died on December 10, 1896. The formal awards ceremony is held in Stockholm each year on the anniversary of his death. The first awards show took place on December 10, 1901. These things take time to plan. And in case you were wondering just how much of a say Alfred Nobel had in the prize, here's his will: The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: The capital shall be invested by my executors in safe securities and shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work of an idealistic tendency; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical works by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm; and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, so that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not. Elsewhere on *mental_floss*: • Indigenous Alcoholic Treats<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8816>from Around the World • Quiz: What Presidents Did After Leaving Office<http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=125> • 11 Pictures <http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8657> Politicians Wish Were Never Taken • X-Rays in the News <http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8082> • "When life gives you Scurvy, make lemonade"<http://www.mentalfloss.com/store/home.php?cat=103>and other great t-shirts • *mental_floss* presents: *Med School In A Box*<http://www.mentalfloss.com/store/product.php?productid=16216&cat=252&page=1> Send this Post »<javascript:openWindow('http://www.mentalfloss.com/sitetools/tellafriend.php?referrer=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.mentalfloss.com%252Fblogs%252Farchives%252F8803&f=blog','450','530')> Suggest a Topic/Link »<javascript:openWindow('http://www.mentalfloss.com/sitetools/suggestalink.php','450','540')> « Previous Post <http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8815> - Next Post » <http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8784> 22 Responses to "15 Award-Winning Facts About The Nobel Prize" 1. Beth Says: October 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29890> Fascinating! 2. ac Says: October 16th, 2007 at 4:02 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29897> Great article! 3. Heathen Dan <http://tinyurl.com/rotht> Says: October 16th, 2007 at 5:19 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29900> Kary Mullis should also be listed in "10. Winners without the greatest reputations" for doubting that HIV causes AIDS, for denying anthropogenic global warming, and for believing in astrology. Using LSD and surfing would be of minor concern to his credibility. 4. Emily Says: October 16th, 2007 at 7:38 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29920> I like a lot of fonts, but the one that my whole computer is set to Book Antiqua. 5. Emily Says: October 16th, 2007 at 7:39 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29921> Sorry about the post above! 6. Melissa Says: October 16th, 2007 at 7:41 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29923> Great article! However, I thought that the Nobel prizes were not given posthumously. (re: Erik Axel Karlfeldt) 7. loop Says: October 16th, 2007 at 7:56 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29926> Lest we forget!… Dr. Egas Moniz of Portugal who won the Nobel prize for medicine in 1949 for his "apple corer" technique for pre-frontal lobotomies. Well, I guess you can't be right 100% of the time… 8. marcus Says: October 16th, 2007 at 8:09 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29927> is Mangesh famous for something? (No. 7 listed him as a famous name that never won). tee hee. 9. V Says: October 16th, 2007 at 8:10 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29928> For no. 10, Thomas Edison shouldn't be there at all. Nikola Tesla should deserve the prize. He did all the work, Edison got all the credit and money, and Tesla died penniless. Actually, I think Tesla should've won the 1909 prize instead of Marconi. 10. Stick Says: October 16th, 2007 at 9:38 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-29933> Did Paul Tagliabue do something Nobel Prize worthy that I don't know about? Number 7 has him listed, but I only know him as NFL commisioner. What's his story? 11. Sid Morrison Says: October 17th, 2007 at 12:13 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-30919> —> In 2007, the winners in Economics and Literature had a combined age of 177. So what? I can add up the ages of a 7th grade class and come up with a big number. Tell us the AVERAGE age if you are trying to make a point that they are old. Sid 12. Jason <http://jasonenglish1.com/> Says: October 17th, 2007 at 12:27 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-30923> But it's 2 people. How is 88.5 more impressive? 13. Jason <http://jasonenglish1.com/> Says: October 17th, 2007 at 5:00 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-30986> In response to Melissa's question about how Erik Axel Karlfeldt won posthumously, from the Nobel.org FAQ: Previously, a person could be awarded a prize posthumously if he/she had already been nominated (before February 1 of the same year), which was true of Erik Axel Karlfeldt (Nobel Prize in Literature 1931) and Dag Hammarskjöld (Nobel Peace Prize, 1961). Effective from 1974, the prize may only go to a deceased person to whom it was already awarded (usually in October) but who had died before he/she could receive the Prize on December 10 (William Vickrey, 1996 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economics in Memory of Alfred Nobel). Also, from the New York Times, October 9, 1931: The first posthumous award of a Nobel Prize was made tonight in literature to Dr. Erik Axel Karlfeldt, Swedish poet, secretary and member of the Swedish Academy, who died in April. Dr. Karlfeldt already had been proposed once, but he had refused the award. The second nomination was made before he died, so that the award is in order — no candidate may be proposed after death. 14. Tom Says: October 18th, 2007 at 11:47 am<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31087> Agree. Nikola Tesla was a genius! He definitely deserved the Nobel instead of Marphoni (haha). 15. J Says: October 18th, 2007 at 8:23 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31144> Kary Mullis is amazing. And Arafat is no more a terrorist than Sharon. 16. Chandra Says: October 18th, 2007 at 8:39 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31148> Wasn't Gandhi nominated at least five times? So,why wasn't he given the award posthumously? 17. jm Says: October 18th, 2007 at 10:39 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31158> Rosalind Franklin and the discovery of DNA's structure. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins won but she died before it happened. Arguably she would have discovered it on her own if she just talked to the other two. She hid her pictures, and the report I read said Wilkins stole them from her and gave them to Watson and Crick, thus giving them the vital clue they needed to figure out the structure of DNA. So, technically, Wilkins got the Nobel Prize for being a thief. 18. Mal Says: October 19th, 2007 at 6:57 am<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31177> I just kept help but disclosing that the H in Jesus H. Christ stands for "Howard." Obviously, this is to honor his dad - God's name is Howard: "Our Father, who art in heaven, Howard be thy name. . ." 19. Ms Teal Says: October 19th, 2007 at 9:37 am<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31203> James Watson should acknowledge Rosalind Franklin's contribution to understanding the DNA helix to redeem himself from sexism and racism in one shot. 20. Vijay Says: October 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31236> Gandhiji is symbol of Peace. No prize can alter this status. I will not be amazed if Noble prize for Peace is renamed as Mahatma Gandhi prize… 21. The Ferg Says: October 19th, 2007 at 4:15 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31251> Very interesting! Definitely one to share with students… 22. Ann Says: October 19th, 2007 at 5:25 pm<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8803?cnn=yes#comment-31259> re: Boris Pasternak declined to accept the 1958 Prize in Literature, which he'd earned for Doctor Zhivago. The Soviets did not allow Pasternak to go to Stockholm to collect his prize. In 1989, his son came to Stockholm during the Nobel festivities in December and was given his father's Nobel medal. In his speech, he regretted that he was unable also to receive the money that would have been given to his father with the medal, had his father been able to go to Stockholm. It was a very emotional event.
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