The Nobel Prizes are among the most prestigious awards in the world, with each winner receiving a gold medal, a Nobel Prize diploma, and a monetary award valued at more than $1M.
Five prizes honor people who have made important contributions to physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and world peace. A sixth prize—given for advances in economics—is technically not a Nobel Prize but is typically included in the group.
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, left the equivalent of more than $200M upon his death to establish the awards. The winners are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the humanities-focused Swedish Academy, Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Nobel Prizes cannot be awarded to someone who has died before being selected and cannot be shared by more than three people, with the exception of the peace prize.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
Established by Alfred Nobel’s will, the Nobel Prizes have been awarded since 1901 to individuals and organizations making major contributions to humanity. Although often grouped with the five original prizes, the economics award was added later by Sweden’s central bank in 1968 and isn't technically a Nobel Prize.
Each October, a few scientists gain global fame when told they’ve won a Nobel Prize—a century-old award founded by Alfred Nobel to recognize major achievements. While the prizes boost attention and prestige for winners, they exclude many deserving scientists due to rigid rules.
Since 1901, about 1,000 individuals have been awarded Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Foundation provides biographies of every winner and concise descriptions of their accomplishments, as well as interviews and videos with more recent winners.
In 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays, which could pass through solid objects and make unseen structures visible. Today’s X-ray tools continue to advance science and medicine, including capturing real-time images of proteins.
Most science laureates come from established academic institutions, and limited outreach and nomination rules have biased against researchers from low- and middle-income countries. As of 2024, China ranks among the world’s top scientific contributors, but has only won 10 Nobel Prizes in the sciences.
Nobel stabilized dangerous nitroglycerin to create dynamite, revolutionizing construction and mining in the 19th century. Despite his success with explosives, he was deeply disturbed by their destructive potential and redirected his legacy toward rewarding human progress.
These prizes show that even seemingly trivial work can gain attention, build momentum, and connect with broader audiences when presented engagingly. Winners include creating a toilet that analyzes your poop and understanding why scientists lick rocks.
Each Nobel selection committee consults with experts to create a shortlist of finalists from the hundreds of nominations, which is then sent to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The literature and peace awards also involve nominations from "qualified persons," such as university professors.
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences isn’t one of the original five prizes in Alfred Nobel’s will but was added by Sweden’s central bank in 1968. Candidates are nominated by top economists, with a focus on lasting academic influence.
While science has grown more inclusive and collaborative, the Nobel Prize system still struggles with outdated practices, such as secrecy and a rigid limit on awardees. This restriction sidelines many deserving scientists, especially in complex projects like the human genome or gravitational waves.
Since our ancient human relatives began using stone tools to perform tasks, humans have harnessed scientific knowledge and new technologies to expand the boundaries of our understanding of the natural world. From quantum computing and microplastics to artificial intelligence and memory, explore these topics and more with our concise yet informative overviews and expert-curated resources.