Nobel Chemistry Prize Awarded to Scientists for Quantum Dot Research

In a groundbreaking recognition of their contributions to the world of science, French-born Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus of the United States, and Russian-born Alexei Ekimov were awarded the Nobel Chemistry Prize on Wednesday for their pioneering work in quantum dots. The announcement came amidst rare leaks in the Swedish media ahead of the official ceremony. These tiny particles, called quantum dots, have become integral components of modern technology, illuminating televisions, LED lamps, and even assisting surgeons in tumor tissue removal.

Moungi Bawendi, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor, expressed his shock upon hearing the news and disclosed that he had not been aware of the leaked reports. Louis Brus, a professor at Columbia in New York, and Alexei Ekimov working at the US-based Nanocrystals Technology, will share the prestigious $1 million award. The trio is set to receive the honor from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, coinciding with the anniversary of scientist Alfred Nobel’s death, who established the Nobel Prize through his last will and testament in 1896.

This Nobel Chemistry Prize marks the third of the season, following the announcement of the medicine prize, awarded to RNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their revolutionary mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines, and the physics prize, presented to scientists from France, Hungary-Austria, and Sweden for their work using ultra-fast light flashes to study electrons within atoms and molecules. The anticipation now shifts to the forthcoming announcements of the literature and peace prizes on Thursday and Friday, respectively, while the Economics Prize will conclude the 2023 Nobel season on the following Monday.

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