The award, bringing its lucky owner boundless respect and honor, world-wide fame and a considerable amount of money. Her appointed in 1901 for outstanding achievement in one of five areas: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, in accordance with the will of Swedish engineer and inventor Alfred Nobel. From 1969 on the initiative of the Swedish bank’s list of nominated areas falls and the economy. The current award is given annually, and its size is 10 million Swedish kronor (about 1.5 million dollars).

What kind of man, Alfred Nobel, who gave to scientists around the world most prestigious award? An engineer, inventor, very intelligent and educated man. A native of Stockholm, he invented dynamite, are experimenting with nitroglycerin and developing improved explosive. Brilliant scientist is always very kind to the young talents and provided them with material support, mindful of their difficulties on the road to discovery.

Of course the Nobel Prize is a very solemn atmosphere, in the same week is organized by a grand banquet and a special concert, considered one of the most important musical events of the year. Unfortunately, the premium is not always a worthy winner, for her, there are certain limitations. For example, the prize may be awarded posthumously, as well as more than three scientists at the same time in one area of science.

There are equivalents of the famous awards, because so many fields of science are simply not nominated. This Fields and Abel Prize in mathematics and Turing Award for his achievements in the field of informatics. Nobel Prize not only copy but also parodies: what is extravagant Ig Nobel prize for the most ridiculous and improbable research.

In the history of the world known only to four people, received the Nobel Prize twice:

   1. Maria Sklodowska-Curie, in physics in 1903, in Chemistry in 1911
   2. Linus Pauling, in Chemistry in 1954, the Peace Prize in 1962
   3. John Bardeen, the two laureates in physics in 1956 and 1972.
   4. Frederick Sanger, the two laureates in chemistry in 1956 and 1980.

And the two organizations received the Nobel Prize several times:

   1. The International Committee of the Red Cross, three Peace Prize in 1917, 1944 and 1963.
   2. UN High Commissioner for Refugees, twice Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981.

In print media, there are references to the curious case of the Nobel Prize. For example, when the English physicist Paul Dirac in 1933 was awarded the famous prize, he would first have to abandon it, explaining that he hated the publicity. But it did Rutherford persuaded colleagues to accept the award, it is reasonable seeing that the rejection of her would be even more publicity.

And Albert Einstein was not awarded the prize for the creation of the theory of relativity. The award was a great scientist had received an explanation of the photoelectric effect, although in the archives of the Nobel Committee About 60 nominations Einstein.

In 1925, Bernard Shaw received the Nobel Prize for literature, hailed the event as “a sign of gratitude for the relief that he has delivered the world, no typing in the current year.