In this article, we will look at the popular questions about the Nobel Prize in the first week of October 2023 around the world.

Who discovered the polio virus?

The polio virus was discovered by several scientists independently. One of the key figures in its discovery was Dr. Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian immunologist, who identified the polio virus in 1908. However, the complete understanding of the virus and its classification came about through the work of multiple researchers over several decades.

Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin were instrumental in developing the polio vaccines that have been critical in controlling the disease. Salk’s inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was introduced in the 1950s, followed by Sabin’s oral polio vaccine (OPV) in the 1960s. These vaccines played a significant role in the near-eradication of polio in many parts of the world.

So, the discovery of the polio virus involved contributions from multiple scientists over time, with Dr. Karl Landsteiner’s work being one of the early milestones in its identification.

What is the Nobel prize?

The Nobel Prize is a set of prestigious international awards presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievements in various fields, including physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. These prizes were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, engineer, and industrialist, in 1895. Alfred Nobel is best known for inventing dynamite, but he left the majority of his fortune in a trust to fund these awards after his death.

The Nobel Prizes are awarded in the following categories:

1. Physics: Awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of physics.
2. Chemistry: Awarded for exceptional achievements in the field of chemistry.
3. Physiology or Medicine: Recognizes significant advancements in the field of medicine and physiology.
4. Literature: Presented for exceptional contributions to the world of literature.
5. Peace: Awarded to individuals, organizations, or movements that have made significant efforts to promote peace and resolve conflicts.

Each Nobel Prize consists of a medal, a diploma, and a cash award. The Nobel Peace Prize is unique among the Nobel Prizes because it is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the others are presented in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Prize ceremonies take place on December 10th each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

These awards are among the most prestigious honors in the world and have recognized individuals and organizations that have made substantial and enduring contributions to humanity in their respective fields. Nobel laureates are selected through a rigorous nomination and selection process, and the prizes are considered a mark of excellence and achievement in their respective disciplines.

How many Nobel prizes are there?

There are a total of six Nobel Prizes awarded annually. They are:

1. Nobel Prize in Physics: Awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of physics.
2. Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Presented for exceptional achievements in the field of chemistry.
3. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Recognizes significant advancements in the field of medicine and physiology.
4. Nobel Prize in Literature: Awarded for exceptional contributions to the world of literature.
5. Nobel Peace Prize: Presented to individuals, organizations, or movements that have made significant efforts to promote peace and resolve conflicts.
6. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (commonly referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics): Introduced later, in 1968, this prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of economics.

These six Nobel Prizes are awarded annually to individuals or organizations that have made substantial and enduring contributions to humanity in their respective fields. Each prize has its own selection process and criteria, and they are presented on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Who won the Nobel prize in 2023?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Ms Mohammadi is still in prison as I speak.

In September 2022 a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Jina Amini, was killed while in the custody of the Iranian morality police. Her killing triggered the largest political demonstrations against Iran’s theocratic regime since it came to power in 1979. Under the slogan “Woman – Life – Freedom”, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took part in peaceful protests against the authorities’ brutality and oppression of women. The regime cracked down hard on the protests: more than 500 demonstrators were killed. Thousands were injured, including many who were blinded by rubber bullets fired by the police. At least 20 000 people were arrested and held in regime custody.

The motto adopted by the demonstrators – “Woman – Life – Freedom” – suitably expresses the dedication and work of Narges Mohammadi.

Woman. She fights for women against systematic discrimination and oppression.

Life. She supports women’s struggle for the right to live full and dignified lives. This struggle across Iran has been met with persecution, imprisonment, torture and even death.

Freedom. She fights for freedom of expression and the right of independence, and against rules requiring women to remain out of sight and to cover their bodies. The freedom demands expressed by demonstrators apply not only to women, but to the entire population.

In the 1990s, as a young physics student, Narges Mohammadi was already distinguishing herself as an advocate for equality and women’s rights. After concluding her studies, she worked as an engineer as well as a columnist in various reform-minded newspapers. In 2003 she became involved with the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran, an organisation founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. In 2011 Ms Mohammadi was arrested for the first time and sentenced to many years of imprisonment for her efforts to assist incarcerated activists and their families.

Two years later, after her release on bail, Ms Mohammadi immersed herself in a campaign against use of the death penalty. Iran has long been among the countries that execute the highest proportion of their inhabitants annually. Just since January 2022, more than 860 prisoners have been punished by death in Iran.

Her activism against the death penalty led to the re-arrest of Ms Mohammadi in 2015, and to a sentence of additional years behind walls. Upon her return to prison, she began opposing the regime’s systematic use of torture and sexualised violence against political prisoners, especially women, that is practised in Iranian prisons.

Last year’s wave of protests became known to the political prisoners held inside the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Once again, Ms Mohammadi assumed leadership. From prison she expressed support for the demonstrators and organised solidarity actions among her fellow inmates. The prison authorities responded by imposing even stricter conditions. Ms Mohammadi was prohibited from receiving calls and visitors. She nevertheless managed to smuggle out an article which the New York Times published on the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s killing. The message was: “The more of us they lock up, the stronger we become.” From captivity, Ms Mohammadi has helped to ensure that the protests have not ebbed out.

Narges Mohammadi is a woman, a human rights advocate, and a freedom fighter. In awarding her this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour her courageous fight for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran. This year’s Peace Prize also recognises the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women. Only by embracing equal rights for all can the world achieve the fraternity between nations that Alfred Nobel sought to promote. The award to Narges Mohammadi follows a long tradition in which the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize to those working to advance social justice, human rights, and democracy. These are important preconditions for lasting peace.

Oslo, 6 October 2023

Source

Which country has the most Nobel laureates?

Number of Nobel laureates by country

Country	Number of Nobel laureates (number of Nobel Prizes)
United States	409 (412)[Note 1]
United Kingdom	137 (138)[Note 2]
Germany	115
France	75 (76)[Note 3]
Sweden	34
Russia/ Soviet Union	30
Japan	29
Canada	27
Switzerland	25
Austria	25
Netherlands	22
Italy	21
Poland	18 (19)[Note 3]
Hungary	15
Australia	14
Denmark	14
Norway	14
Israel	13
India	12
Belgium	11
Ireland	11
South Africa	11
China (People’s Republic of China)	8
Spain	8
Czech Republic	6
Argentina	5
Finland	5
Egypt	4
Romania	4
Ukraine	4
Taiwan (Republic of China)	4[Note 4]
Belarus	3
Croatia	3
Lithuania	3
Mexico	3
New Zealand	3
Bosnia and Herzegovina	2
Chile	2
Colombia	2
East Timor	2
Greece	2
Guatemala	2
Liberia	2
Luxembourg	2
Pakistan	2
Portugal	2
Saint Lucia	2
Tunisia	2
Turkey	2
Iran	2
Bangladesh	1
Bulgaria	1
Algeria	1
Costa Rica	1
Cyprus	1
Democratic Republic of the Congo	1
Ethiopia	1
Faroe Islands	1
Ghana	1
Hong Kong	1
Iceland	1
Iraq	1
Kenya	1
Latvia	1
Lebanon	1
North Macedonia	1
Morocco	1
Myanmar	1
Nigeria	1
Palestine	1
Peru	1
Philippines	1
Slovenia	1
Korea, South	1
Tanzania	1
Tibet	1
Trinidad and Tobago	1
Venezuela	1
Vietnam	1
Yemen	1