On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace - the Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Learn more about the Laureates here.
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Announcement of the Nobel PrizesThe Nobel Laureates and Laureates in Economic Sciences are announced in October every year, on the same day that the Nobel Prize awarding institutions choose from among the names recommended by the respective Nobel Committees. Immediately after the vote, a press conference is held by the concerned Nobel Prize awarder, and the names of the Nobel Laureates are announced. Announcements of the 2013 Nobel Prizes Monday 7 October, 11:30 a.m. at the earliest - The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |
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The Nobel Prize InsigniasAt the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies on 10 December the Nobel Laureates receive three things: a Nobel Diploma, a Nobel Medal and a document confirming the Nobel Prize amount. Each Nobel Diploma is a unique work of art, created by foremost Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers. The Nobel Medals are handmade with careful precision and in 18 carat green gold plated with 24 carat gold. The Nobel Medals in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature are identical on the face: it shows the image of Alfred Nobel and the years of his birth and death (1833-1896). Nobel's portrait also appears on the Nobel Peace Prize Medal and the Medal for the Prize in Economic Sciences, but with a slightly different design. The image on the reverse varies according to the institution awarding the prize. |
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The Nobel DiplomasEach Nobel Diploma is a unique work of art, created by foremost Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers. |
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555 Nobel Prizes!Between 1901 and 2012, the Nobel Prizes and the Prize in Economic Sciences were awarded 555 times.
In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: "A prize amount may be equally divided between two works, each of which is considered to merit a prize. If a work that is being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons." |
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863 Nobel Laureates* !839 Laureates and 24 organizations have been awarded the Nobel Prize between 1901 and 2012. Of them, 71 are Laureates in Economic Sciences. A small number of individuals and organizations have been honoured more than once, which means that 835 individuals and 21 unique organizations have received the Nobel Prize in total. See "Multiple Nobel Laureates". |
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Years when the Nobel Prize have not been awardedSince the start, in 1901, there are some years when the Nobel Prizes have not been awarded. The total number of times are 50. Most of them during World War I (1914-1918) and II (1939-1945). In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: "If none of the works under consideration is found to be of the importance indicated in the first paragraph, the prize money shall be reserved until the following year. If, even then, the prize cannot be awarded, the amount shall be added to the Foundation's restricted funds."
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Only 44 Nobel Prizes to women!Between 1901 and 2012 the Nobel Prize and Prize in Economic Sciences have been awarded 44 times to women. |
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Average ageThe average age of all Nobel Laureates in all prize categories between 1901 and 2012 is 59 years. |
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The youngest Nobel Laureates
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The oldest Nobel Laureates
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Two Nobel Laureates have declined the Nobel Prize!Jean-Paul Sartre, awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature, declined the prize because he had consistently declined all official honours. |
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Four Nobel Laureates have been forced by authorities to decline the Nobel Prize!Adolf Hitler forbade three German Nobel Laureates, Richard Kuhn, Adolf Butenandt and Gerhard Domagk, from accepting the Nobel Prize. All of them could later receive the Nobel Prize Diploma and Medal, but not the prize amount. |
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Three Nobel Laureates have been under arrest at the time of the award German pacifist and journalist Carl von Ossietzky |
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Multiple Nobel LaureatesThe work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been honoured by a Nobel Peace Prize three times. Besides, the founder of the ICRC, Henry Dunant, was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
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Posthumous Nobel PrizesFrom 1974, the Statutes of the Nobel Foundation stipulate that a Prize cannot be awarded posthumously, unless death has occurred after the announcement of the Nobel Prize. Before 1974, the Nobel Prize has only been awarded posthumously twice: to Dag Hammarskjöld (Nobel Peace Prize 1961) and Erik Axel Karlfeldt (Nobel Prize in Literature 1931). Following the 2011 announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, it was discovered that one of the Medicine Laureates, Ralph Steinman, had passed away three days earlier. The Board of the Nobel Foundation examined the statutes, and an interpretation of the purpose of the rule above lead to the conclusion that Ralph Steinman should continue to remain a Nobel Laureate, as the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet had announced the 2011 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine without knowing of his death. |
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"Family Nobel Laureates"As you may notice, the Curies were a very successful 'Nobel Prize family'. Marie Curie herself was awarded two Nobel Prizes. Read more about Marie and Pierre Curie and the Discovery of Polonium and Radium.
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*Why are the individuals and organisations awarded a Nobel Prize called Nobel Laureates? The word "Laureate" refers to being signified by the laurel wreath. In Greek mythology, the god Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head. A laureal wreath is a circular crown made of branches and leaves of the bay laurel (In latin: Laurus nobilis). In Ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were awarded to victors as a sign of honour - both in athletic competitions and in poetic meets. |
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Links to more facts on the Nobel Prizes: |