This story at a glance…

1. The Nobel Prizes honor exceptional achievements benefiting humanity, established by Alfred Nobel.

2. Winners are awarded in six fields: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics.

3. Each laureate receives a medal, diploma, and $1 million.

4. This year’s winners include innovators in AI, protein design, gene regulation, poetic prose, and nuclear disarmament.

  Nobel Prizes 2024: Everything You Need to Know 

The Nobel Prize has recognized remarkable contributions to humanity for over a century. Established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, these prestigious awards honor individuals and organizations whose work benefits humankind. Nobel’s legacy lives on each year as laureates are selected in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace, with a prize for Economic Sciences added in 1969. Winners receive a gold medal, a unique diploma, and a prize of about $1 million (SEK 11 million).

The selection process is rigorous, and a Nobel Prize can only be shared by up to three individuals per category. This year’s Nobel Prizes celebrate breakthroughs in machine learning, protein design, gene regulation, literature, and peace efforts. 

What to Know About the Nobel Prize

• Why are the prizes awarded in these specific fields?
  Nobel’s will specified five fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. He chose these areas based on his interests and career. In 1969, a prize in Economic Sciences was added by Sweden’s central bank in Nobel’s honor.

• How do you become nominated for a Nobel Prize?
  Only qualified nominators, like university professors and previous laureates, can nominate someone for a Nobel Prize. Self-nominations are not allowed, and the committees review nominations to select the winners.

• How many nominations do you need to be awarded the Nobel Prize?
  Winning depends on the impact of a nominee’s work, not the number of nominations. Some laureates win after a few nominations, while others are nominated many times before being chosen.

• Can someone affiliated with an organization that won the Nobel Peace Prize claim the honor?
  No. When an organization wins the Peace Prize, only the organization itself is considered a laureate. Individual members cannot claim personal laureate status.

• What is the Nobel Day?
  Nobel Day is celebrated on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. It’s the day when the Nobel Prizes are awarded in ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo.

• How are Nobel laureates chosen?
  Specialized committees for each prize field, such as the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, are responsible for selecting winners. They review hundreds of nominations submitted by experts worldwide, but the actual list of nominees is kept secret for 50 years.

• Can Nobel Prizes be awarded posthumously?
  No, Nobel Prizes are not given posthumously, though a laureate who passes away after being announced will still receive the prize.

2024 Nobel Prize Laureates

Nobel Prize in Physics: Unlocking the Power of Machine Learning
This year’s Physics Nobel recognizes John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for breakthroughs that laid the groundwork for machine learning. Hopfield’s work helps machines “remember” patterns, while Hinton developed methods enabling AI to recognize new patterns on its own, like a brain learning to recognize faces. Their discoveries are fundamental to AI technology used in voice assistants and self-driving cars.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Decoding Life’s Protein Puzzles
David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper received the Chemistry Prize for revolutionizing our understanding of proteins. Imagine proteins as the complex tools that carry out countless tasks in our bodies. By designing new proteins and predicting their shapes with AI, the laureates have unlocked potential treatments for various diseases. This achievement is like solving a puzzle without knowing the final picture—it’s transformative for biology and medicine.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Small Molecules, Big Impact
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were honored for their discovery of microRNAs, tiny molecules that help regulate genes. Picture them as the conductors of a grand orchestra, making sure every note—every gene—plays at the right time. These microRNAs are essential for understanding how our bodies grow, function, and respond to diseases, offering a new perspective on gene regulation.

Nobel Prize in Literature: Telling Stories of Human Fragility
South Korean author Han Kang received the Literature Prize for her poetic prose, which delves into historical traumas and the delicate nature of human life. Her work brings to light hidden emotions and human struggles, exploring how individuals endure suffering and find resilience. Through her writing, Han Kang invites readers to reflect on the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead.

Nobel Peace Prize: Working for a World Without Nuclear Weapons
This year’s Peace Prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Known as the Hibakusha, they have spent decades advocating for a nuclear-free world. Through their testimony, they highlight the human cost of nuclear warfare and inspire efforts toward disarmament. By sharing their personal stories, they aim to build a future where peace prevails and nuclear weapons have no place.

Reflection
The Nobel Prizes remind us of the importance of using our talents to serve others and honor God. As each laureate’s story shows, even the smallest contributions can have a lasting impact. Reflecting on the work of these honorees, we are reminded of Christ’s teachings in Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world.” Let us, too, be lights that shine in service and love, using our gifts to bless those around us.