The Nobel Foundation, composed of Norwegian and Swedish committees, has announced all six 2023 Nobel Laureates this October.
These prizes are given in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology/medicine, literature, peace, and economics. This year, the Nobel Foundation announced 351 candidates. Of these, here are the six winners:
In the field of physics, Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier earned the prize for their work in exploring electron behavior. By creating extremely short pulses of light, (one quintillionth of a second), they can measure the movement of electrons. This has been incredibly difficult for researchers to accomplish, as electrons move at 43 miles per second. Their discovery led to a breakthrough in attosecond physics. The field has the potential to develop insights into the quantum dynamics of electrons, which could allow for the development of new materials and technologies.
In chemistry, Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov were awarded the prize for the discovery and development of quantum dots. These dots are so incredibly tiny, that their properties are based on their size. An example of their properties include the ability to absorb and emit specific colors of light. Today, this technology has been widely used in LEDs and medical imaging, helping improve the resolution of displays and helping guide surgeons through surgical operations.
Most famously, in physiology/medicine, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman received the prize for their work developing mRNA vaccines. These types of vaccines are best known for their use in quelling the COVID pandemic. Unlike traditional vaccines that often use a weakened germ to trigger an immune response, mRNA vaccines provide genetic code to cells, instructing them to produce a protein resembling the virus. As a result, an immune response is triggered, creating memory cells that can later be used to recognize signs of disease.
Jon Fosse, a Norwegian author, was presented with the Nobel Prize in Literature, “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” Fosse is notable for his 40 plays and novels, with his work being translated into over 50 languages. His recent publication, “A New Name: Septology VI-VII,” has widely been considered Fosse’s magnum opus, and was nominated for the International Booker Prize.
The storied Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, for her activist work within Iran. Still imprisoned, Mohammadi is well known for advocating for the rights of women in Iran. A theocratic state, Iran is notorious for the mistreatment of women who refuse to follow a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic doctrine. Her work helped mobilize protestors in demonstrating against the Iranian government for their disregard towards gender equality and human rights. She is the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, a non-governmental organization striving for human rights.
Finally, Claudia Goldin was granted the economic prize for her analysis of women’s earnings within the past centuries. Her work illustrates women’s gradual participation in the labor market, helping tell a story of economic inequality between the genders. Goldin demonstrated how inequality has shifted. Previously, wage gaps were explained due to education and occupation, but over time, her study shows this gap has appeared between a man and a woman working the same job.
The non-peace prizes will be awarded in-person to the recipients in Stockholm, Sweden on December 10th, while the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded the same day in Oslo, Norway.
