2023-10-04 10:54:10
Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their work with quantum dots. Moungi Bawendi, of MIT; Louis Brus of Columbia University and Alexei Ekimov of Nanocrystals Technology Inc. were recognized for their work with tiny particles, just a few atoms in diameter, whose electrons have limited movement. This affects how they absorb and display visible light, allowing for very bright colors. They are used in many electronic devices such as LED displays.
“These tiny particles have unique properties and now shed their light from television screens and LED light bulbs. They catalyze chemical reactions and their clear light can illuminate tumor tissue for a surgeon,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which announced the award in Stockholm.
In an unusual twist, Swedish media reported the names of the winners before the official announcement. The academy did not comment on the names leaked before their presentation.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards prizes in physics, chemistry and economics, calls for applications a year in advance from thousands of university professors and other academics around the world.
Then, a committee chosen for each award reviews the candidates at a series of meetings throughout the year. At the end of the process, the committee presents one or more proposals to the full academy for a vote. The deliberations, including the names of the unsuccessful candidates, are kept secret for 50 years.
Nobel Prize in Physics
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics went on Tuesday to French-Swedish physicist Anne L’Huillier, French scientist Pierre Agostine and Hungarian-born Ferenc Krausz for achieving the first glimpse in tiny fractions of a second of the ultra-fast world of electrons.
These tiny parts of each atom revolve around its nucleus and are fundamental to practically everything: chemistry, physics, our bodies and our devices.
The Hungarian-American Katalin Karikó and the American Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for discoveries that allowed the development of messenger RNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Last year, Americans Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, as well as Danish scientist Morten Meldal, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a way to “join molecules” that can be used to study cells, sequence DNA and design drugs. more precise against diseases such as cancer.
The other Nobel Prize winners are missing
The chemistry prize marks the halfway point of the Nobel Prize season. The literature, peace and economics awards have yet to be announced, in a process that concludes on October 9.
The prize money was raised this year by 10%, to 11 million Swedish crowns (about one million dollars). In addition to the money, winners receive an 18-karat gold medal and a diploma at award ceremonies in December.
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