The History of the Nobel Prize in Medicine

 

"Attributing Excellence in Medicine: The History of the Nobel Prize" offers readers a deep dive into one of the most prestigious accolades in medical science, the Nobel Prize. But this book isn’t just a chronicle of achievements; it’s a compelling exploration of the human side of scientific greatness, a journey through the politics, personalities, and groundbreaking discoveries that have shaped modern medicine.

The authors take us behind the scenes of the Nobel Prize process, revealing not only how laureates are selected, but also the intense rivalries and philosophical debates that have defined some of the most consequential decisions in medical history. What makes this work so fascinating is its balance between historical rigor and personal storytelling. You’ll find yourself not just reading about the medical breakthroughs that saved millions of lives but understanding the often overlooked figures who were passed over for the prize—sometimes controversially so.

One of the book’s strengths is its wide scope. It traces the origins of the Nobel Prize, contextualizing Alfred Nobel’s vision of rewarding those who "conferred the greatest benefit to mankind," and follows the evolution of the prize through times of war, political upheaval, and rapid scientific advancement. The book addresses how the Nobel Prize has adapted (and sometimes struggled) to keep pace with new medical paradigms, such as the rise of genetics, biotechnology, and global health initiatives.
The authors also delve into the personal stories of laureates, shedding light on their perseverance, moments of serendipity, and even their human flaws. The narrative brings to life figures like Marie Curie, Alexander Fleming, and many lesser-known but equally pivotal contributors to medical science. Their struggles to advance knowledge in the face of adversity are inspiring, and the authors have a knack for drawing out the emotional resonance of their stories.

Yet, this book isn’t just about heroes. The authors don’t shy away from addressing the controversies surrounding the Nobel Prize, particularly the debates over who deserved recognition and who was unjustly overlooked. The inclusion of behind-the-scenes accounts of committee deliberations adds depth, illustrating the often subjective nature of deciding who gets to stand in the spotlight.

For anyone interested in the intersection of medicine, history, and human ambition, "Attributing Excellence in Medicine" is a fascinating read. It not only captures the grandeur of scientific achievement but also reflects on the complexities of recognizing and rewarding it. The result is a book that inspires both admiration for the laureates and a critical awareness of the Nobel Prize's legacy in shaping modern medicine.

This is an Open Access book.

 

Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization. He reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and created the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax. His medical discoveries provided direct support for the germ theory of disease and its application in clinical medicine. Together with Ferdinand Cohn and Robert Koch, he is regarded as one of the main founders of bacteriology.

The oldest astronomical observatory in Asia

Cheomseongdae is an astronomical observatory in Gyeongju, South Korea. It is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia. It was constructed in the 7th century in the kingdom of Silla. Cheomseongdae was designated as South Korea's 31st national treasure in 1962. Modeled on Baekje's Jeomseongdae, which now exists only in historical records, Cheomseongdae influenced the construction of a Japanese observatory in 675, and Duke Zhou's observatory in China in 723.

Io: the most volcanic body in the solar system

Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system is seen in the highest resolution obtained to date by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. The smallest features that can be discerned are 2.5 kilometers in size. There are rugged mountains several kilometers high, layered materials forming plateaus, and many irregular depressions called volcanic calderas. Several of the dark, flow-like features correspond to hot spots, and may be active lava flows. There are no landforms resembling impact craters, as the volcanism covers the surface with new deposits much more rapidly than the flux of comets and asteroids can create large impact craters. The picture is centered on the side of Io that always faces away from Jupiter; north is to the top.

Color images acquired on September 7, 1996 have been merged with higher resolution images acquired on November 6, 1996 by the Solid State Imaging (CCD) system aboard NASA's Galileo spacecraft. The color is composed of data taken, at a range of 487,000 kilometers, in the near-infrared, green, and violet filters and has been enhanced to emphasize the extraordinary variations in color and brightness that characterize Io's face. The high resolution images were obtained at ranges which varied from 245,719 kilometers to 403,100 kilometers.

Launched in October 1989, Galileo entered orbit around Jupiter on December 7, 1995. The spacecraft's mission is to conduct detailed studies of the giant planet, its largest moons and the Jovian magnetic environment. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA manages the mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC.
 

Airglow of the Earth's atmosphere

Airglow over the VLT (Very Large Telescope) platform.

Airglow, a faint emission of light by a planetary atmosphere, is caused by various processes in the upper atmosphere, such as the recombination of atoms which were photoionized by the sun during the day, luminescence caused by cosmic rays striking the upper atmosphere, and chemiluminescence caused mainly by oxygen and nitrogen reacting with hydroxyl ions at heights of a few hundred kilometres. It is not noticeable during the daytime because of the scattered light from the sun. The airglow at night may be bright enough to be noticed by an observer and is generally bluish in colour.