About the Nobel Prize in Physics
At Winzum we love running exciting, innovative and community-led online competitions first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean we’re not also passionate about spreading knowledge in a variety of topics. For example, we’re willing to bet that there weren’t too many of you who knew all about the Nobel Prize in Literature before our article on it (available here[about the Nobel Prize in Literature]).
Well, that article got us thinking about the other types of Nobel Prize that have been awarded over the last century or so, and what is more exciting than the Noble Prize in Physics? This legendary competition prize has been given to some of the all time greats of human knowledge, so it would have been rude not to explore it some more…
A brief summary of the Nobel Prize in Physics
Just like with the Nobel Prize in Literature, it was a particularly inventive Swedish businessman called Alfred Nobel who is responsible for the Nobel Prize in Physics. Just before the inventor of things like dynamite died he made a will that ensured his vast wealth would be used to reward figures who gave the “greatest benefit to mankind”.
The Nobel Prize in Physics was one of the 5 Nobel Prizes to be established, something that has consequentially resulted in many incredible human discoveries that have driven the entire race forwards.
Running through the history of the Nobel Prize in Physics
The first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded all the way back in 1901 to a scientist called Wilhelm Rontgen for his essential contributions to the field of X-rays. It was a fantastic way to start the Nobel Prize in Physics, especially considering X-ray technology has been absolutely essential for the development of modern medicine.
Over the years the Nobel Prize in Physics has slowly become one of the most famous examples of the Nobel Prize, something that is largely down to the immense excitement that new technological discoveries made over the 20th and 21st centuries have resulted in.
Important things that have been achieved due to the Nobel Prize in Physics
We’ve already mentioned the discovery of X-ray by Wilhelm Rontgen, however there are a load more important things that have been achieved and recognised by the Nobel Prize in Physics. The famous early 20th century scientist Marie Curie made crucial advances in the field of radiation, for instance, indirectly saving millions of lives in the process.
More recently the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez for their work on black holes, helping to further our understanding of our place in the universe.
Famous recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics
There have been many Nobel Prize in Physics winners over the years, however by far the most famous has to be Albert Einstein, probably the most famous scientist to ever live.
Sadly, another iconic scientist in Stephen Hawking never won the Nobel Prize in Physcics, however many think he would have shared the prize with this year’s main victor Roger Penrose had he still been alive.