In brief
This year, Nobel Prize winners experienced a range of reactions upon receiving their prestigious news—some through surprise knocks on the door, while others answered calls they initially dismissed as spam. Discover the unique ways these scientists learned about their recognition for significant scientific achievements.
BERLIN (AP) — The announcement of this year’s Nobel Prize winners came as a surprise to many. For some, it was a knock at the door before dawn; for others, a long-awaited phone call honoring decades of research.
Notably, one medicine prize winner was vacationing in Yellowstone National Park without cellular service, leaving him unaware of his accolade for hours.
Regarded as one of the world's most prestigious honors, the Nobel Prizes recognize outstanding achievements in fields such as medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, economics, and peace. Winners join a distinguished legacy of luminaries including Albert Einstein and Mother Teresa.
In preparation for potential wins, some candidates stay awake through the night, while others await the news in anticipation.
This year, five of the nine science winners were in the U.S. when the announcements occurred, some still fast asleep. For instance, when Associated Press photographer Lindsey Wasson knocked on Mary E. Brunkow's door, it was her dog that first woke her husband with the news she had won a Nobel Prize for her contributions in medicine.
Brunkow initially thought her husband was joking when he told her she had won, not realizing her groundbreaking research in immune tolerance had led to this huge recognition.
Similarly, physicist John Martinis was initially roused to a visiting photographer rather than the news itself. His wife had decided to let him rest while knowing the significance of the visitors.
For others, receiving the call from the Nobel committee presented a humorous twist. Chemistry prize winner Susumu Kitagawa nearly ignored the phone, mistaking the Swedish caller for a telemarketer. Ramsdell, unaware of his award, only realized something significant had happened when his wife told him that his phone was flooded with congratulatory messages.
The Nobel announcements will continue, with the literature prize winner yet to receive their phone call. Each story is unique, highlighting not only the honor but also the surprising moments of discovery that accompany such achievements.
