Between Science, Humanity and History
Some awards transcend time and become synonymous with excellence
The Nobel Prize is one of them. Created by the Swedish engineer and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel, it is not just an award, but a reflection of the relentless pursuit of progress and peace.
The inspiration for the prize arose from an unexpected reflection. In 1888, upon reading a newspaper headline that called him a “merchant of death”, mistaking his identity for that of his late brother, Nobel was confronted with how the world saw him. Inventor of nitroglycerin and dynamite, he decided to transform his legacy. Thus the Nobel Prize was born, to honor those who truly contribute to the advancement of humanity.
An annual celebration of brilliance
Every December 10, the Nobel ceremony illuminates Stockholm and Oslo, awarding visionary minds and dedicated hearts. Laureates receive more than recognition: a diploma, an 18-carat gold medal, and approximately $800,000 (8 million Swedish kronor). More than awards, they are symbols of the impact that a life can have on the world.
Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel in 1903, was also the first person to receive the prize twice, in Physics and Chemistry. Linus Pauling excelled in Chemistry and Peace. Albert Einstein, for his part, received the Nobel Prize in Physics not for his Theory of Relativity, but for his studies on the photoelectric effect. Mahatma Gandhi, an eternal name in the struggle for peace, was nominated 12 times but never awarded.
The Nobel Prize recognizes achievements in five categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. The selection of winners is meticulous: specialized committees invite scientists, professors, and academics to suggest names, generating a list of 200 to 300 nominees each year. Candidates cannot nominate themselves, and only the winner is announced publicly.
Since its creation in 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded 817 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. Its impact echoes in every scientific advancement, every transformative literary work, every effort for peace. More than a prize, it is a tribute to the human spirit and its quest for the extraordinary.
