In January 1897, the will of Alfred Nobel was announced, according to which all his property was transformed into a fund. Revenues from it in the form of bonuses are awarded annually to people who have brought invaluable benefit to mankind in various fields of science, in the maintenance of peace and the development of society. According to statistics, the average age of the laureates is 55 years, but we decided to conduct an unusual study, and in our article the youngest Nobel laureates in different fields of science.
1
Malala Yusufzai. Peace Prize
The young Pakistani girl in 2014 became the youngest winner of the most prestigious Nobel Prize in her story of her presentation. When Malala entered the Town Hall scene in Oslo, Norway, she was only 17 years old.
The Peace Prize was awarded to Malala along with another human rights defender from India, Kailash Satyartha. The Pakistani region of Swat, where the girl was born and lived, was captured by the Taliban. At age 11, she began her blog for the Air Force, in which she told the whole world about the horrors of terrorism.
After being liberated from Swat province militants, Malala continued to actively participate in the movement for access to education for women and the protection of children's rights. In 2012, an attempt was made on her, but the brave girl was not afraid and continues to protect women and children who fell into difficult circumstances.
2
William Lawrence Bragg. Physics
The young Australian physicist Lawrence Bragg, along with his father, studied crystals using x-rays. Their work was noticed by the scientific community and in 1915, father and son received the Nobel Prize in physics.
At that time, Lawrence was 25 years old, and he made his first scientific discovery in 1912. With the help of X-rays, he calculated the position of atoms in the crystal, and his father built a special spectrometer, with which he conducted research. When the family was awarded the prize, they already lived in England, and a young talented physicist worked at Cambridge University.
In addition to science, Lawrence excellently painted, loved literature and gardening. He did not have his own garden, and the illustrious scientist incognito worked part-time as a gardener.
3
Frederick Grant Bunting. Medicine
A native of Canada, the illustrious doctor and physiologist at the age of 32 received the Nobel Prize. The Royal Committee noted his merits in the field of medicine and physiology, and in 1923 awarded him and his ally Scotsman John MacLeod the most prestigious award.
A Canadian physician conducted research in the treatment of diabetes, and became one of the pioneers of the hormone insulin. His scientific work has helped medicine make significant progress in treating this serious illness.
Frederick gave part of the funds to his assistant Charles Beston. The world recognized the outstanding services of Frederick Grant Bunting, and on November 14, the day the medical scientist was born, humanity celebrates World Diabetes Day.
4
Frederic Joliot-Curie. Chemistry
In 1935, the Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to the family couple Joliot-Curie. Frederick and his wife Irene investigated elementary particles and synthesized new radioactive elements.
Frederick was 35 years old at the time of the award, and therefore he remains the youngest Nobel laureate in chemistry. Wife Irene, the eldest daughter of the illustrious scientist Maria Skłodowska-Curie, was 3 years older than her husband.
The pioneering research and discoveries of Joliot-Curie became the basis for the creation of atomic weapons, but the scientist himself was an ardent supporter of the struggle for peace and an active participant in the anti-war movement. In 1951, the Frenchman received the Stalin Prize for strengthening friendship between the Soviet and French peoples.
On our website TheBiggest.ru you can find out some interesting facts about nuclear weapons.
5
Rudyard Kipling. Literature
The most famous and readable work of the English writer and poet, of course, is The Book of the Jungle, which was published in 1894. And in 1907, the talented writer became the first Englishman to receive a prestigious award in the field of literature.
He remains the youngest writer to receive a prize at the age of 42. When the writer was awarded the prize, the whole world was already read out by his novel “Kim” and admired the incredible adventures and description of nature in the “Jungle Book”.
The English writer left his noticeable mark in world literature and, in addition to Nobel, was marked by numerous prestigious awards and honorary degrees.
6
Kenneth Joseph Arrow. Economy
Kenneth's parents emigrated to the United States from Moldova, fleeing the persecution of Jews. In the United States, Kenneth received a master's degree in mathematics and a Ph.D. in economics, and in 1972, at the age of 51, he received the Nobel Prize.
For many years he worked in the theory of equilibrium and welfare in economics. The hard work and determination of the scientist yielded results, and were awarded the highest award in the world of science. He shared the award with his associate John Hicks.
In 1951, long before world recognition, Kenneth formulated and proved the theory of the impossibility of collective choice. This famous paradox entered into scientific circulation under the name of the famous economist.
Young Nobel Laureates of the USSR and Russia
Along with recognized world scholars, writers and public figures, we will also introduce young scientists from Russia and the Soviet Union who received prizes at a relatively young age.
Nikolai Gennadievich Basov. Physics
The illustrious Russian and Soviet physicist was born in the Tambov province, and since childhood has shown abilities for exact sciences and natural sciences.
Most of all, Nikolai was interested in quantum electronics and its practical application in life. In 1954, he was the first to invent a quantum generator operating on a beam of ammonia molecules. He later proposed the idea of creating semiconductor lasers.
Together with other scientists, he developed and created an excimer laser and many other units useful for science and life. In 1964, the Nobel Committee awarded the 42-year-old Soviet scientist a prize for his significant contribution to the research of quantum electronics.
Konstantin Sergeevich Novosyolov. Physics
Another Russian physicist has become famous in the field of nanotechnology and mesoscopic physics. For his contribution to world science and innovative research, by personal decree of Elizabeth II, he was promoted to knight-bachelor.
A Nobel laureate in physics was born in Nizhny Tagil. Today it is the youngest Nobel laureate from Russia, since he received it at the age of 36 years. The scientific world appreciated his developments in the field of research of carbon atoms. Nikolai shared the success with his mentor Andrei Geim.
In addition to scientific research, Konstantin is passionate about art. In the Netherlands, he met his future wife, a microbiologist from Vologda, and now the couple is raising two beautiful daughters.
Interesting fact!
In contrast to the award of the Swedish-Norwegian philanthropist Alfred Nobel, the Shnobel Prize exists in the world. This is a kind of parody, and this prize is awarded for the most witty and unusual scientific research. And it has been leading its history since October 1991. The first is intended to financially support scientists and science, the second is to foster popular interest in scientific research.
Article author: Valery Skiba