The Nobel Prize is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the world of science and culture, and its winners become models of outstanding achievement and an inspiration to others. Find out more about what this year's candidates have surprised the world with

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The capitals of Sweden and Norway - Stockholm and Oslo - are hosting Nobel Week-2023. Every year this period is filled with anticipation, intrigue and hope for the announcement of the names of outstanding laureates whose achievements make a significant contribution to the development of mankind. 

As you know, the Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious and respected international awards, which is presented annually in various fields of science, literature and peace. 

The process of establishing and awarding Nobel Prizes was established in accordance with the will of Swedish inventor and industrial magnate Alfred Nobel. Nobel inherited his fortune from his work on explosives and dynamite, and in his will he expressed his desire to use some of his wealth to reward people who had done "the greatest service to mankind" in various fields of knowledge.

We tell you who the 2023 laureates are and what is known about the discoveries that shed light on diverse aspects of our world, from medicine to literature, and leave an unforgettable mark on the history of our time.

Physiology and Medicine Prize

On Monday, October 2, the Nobel Committee announced the winners of the first prize in 2023 in Physiology and Medicine. They were Katalin Carico and Drew Weissman for their discovery of nucleotide base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

The work of these scientists helped create Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines against coronavirus. They have made revolutionary contributions to enabling the effective use of mRNA for vaccines and immunotherapy.

Carico and Weissman demonstrated that the modified mRNA is non-inflammatory and very efficiently converted into proteins when administered to animals, opening up the potential to utilize this new mRNA technology for therapeutic treatments. Their research has shown that nucleoside modified mRNA can be used to vaccinate animals against a variety of pathogens including influenza virus, HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and malaria.

Physics Prize

Already on October 3, the name of the Nobel Prize winner in Physics was announced. They were scientists Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Houllier for experimental methods of studying the dynamics of electrons in matter.

The scientists conducted experiments that gave mankind new tools to explore the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. They demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure fast processes in which electrons move or change energy.

Agostini, Crouch and L'Houllier made it possible to study processes that are so fast that they could not be traced before. They created fairly short flashes of light to take pictures of the very fast motion of electrons. 

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Chemistry Prize

The Nobel Committee announced the winners of the chemistry prize on October 4 - they were scientists Mungi Bavendi, Louis Bruce and Alexei Ekimov "for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots."

The scientists discovered and developed quantum dots, nanoparticles so small that their size determines their properties. They have unique properties and spread their light from TV screens and LED lamps. They catalyze chemical reactions and their clear light can illuminate tumor tissue for a surgeon.

Scientists believe that in the future, quantum dots could help create flexible electronics, miniaturized sensors, thinner solar cells and possibly encrypted quantum communication.

Literature Prize 

The 2023 Prize for Literature was awarded to Norwegian author Jun Fosse. He received the award for the fact that in his works he gives voice to those who usually do not have the right to speak.

At the same time, critics initially considered the favorite Chinese writer Tsan Xue. 

According to experts, the popularity of Fosse's works is due to the fact that he builds plots not on the strength of characters, but on their weaknesses - on insecurity, fear of death, lack of faith in their own strength. All these doubts are close to absolutely everyone, making Fosse such a sought-after author, representatives of the Swedish Academy said on the sidelines of the ceremony announcing the winner.

Fosse is 64, but his first novel, "Red, Black," was published back in 1983, and his first play, "And Never Separate Us," was published in 1994. Fosse writes in Norwegian, but his works have been translated into more than forty languages, and his plays are staged in many countries around the world. His novel "Morning and Evening" has been translated into Ukrainian.

Peace Prize

Many Ukrainians this year again expected to see President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. However, the Nobel Committee gave the award to Iranian human rights activist Nargiz Mohammadi.

Mohammadi is vice president of the Human Rights Defenders Center (DHRC), which is headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

In May 2016, she was sentenced in Tehran to 16 years in prison for founding and leading a "human rights movement advocating for the abolition of the death penalty."

During large-scale protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl who was arrested by "morality police" for "publicly disregarding Iranian hijab rules," Norgess sent a letter from Evin Prison asking the UN to ban the Iranian government from sentencing protesters to death.

It is worth noting that the name of the winner of the prize in economics (officially known as the "Swedish Bank Prize for Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel") will be announced on Monday, October 9.

We remind you! On June 23, Ukraine celebrated the International Day of Women in Engineering. Visit Ukraine told about the outstanding Ukrainian women who have made a significant contribution to the development of science both in Ukraine and around the world. Read more about it here.

Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP

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