Nobel Prize Winners Announced for 2024
The announcements for the 2024 Nobel Prizes began on Oct. 7, recognizing groundbreaking contributions to humanity.
The first prize, awarded in the field of physiology or medicine, went to two American scientists for their discovery of microRNAs. The Nobel Prize recipients in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economic sciences will be announced over the next week. Winners are given a medal, a personal diploma, and a cash award of about $1.1 million. Established by Alfred Nobel in 1901, past laureates include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Below is a list of all of this year’s winners as they are announced.
Physiology or medicine
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNAs, a class of small molecules crucial for gene regulation. Their research has uncovered how these microRNAs influence cellular behavior and contribute to various health challenges, including cancer and heart disease. As our understanding of these tiny regulators grows, so does the potential for innovative therapeutic approaches to complex medical conditions.
Ambros and Ruvkun’s work began in the 1990s when they studied roundworms, uncovering the intricate relationship between specific genes and the regulatory role of microRNAs. This discovery revealed that microRNAs can bind to messenger RNA, influencing the production of proteins vital for cellular functions. Their findings, published in *Cell* in 1993, opened new avenues for understanding genetic communication within cells. Thomas Perlmann, secretary general of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, said their work is “truly fundamental for all physiology.”
Physics
The recipient will be announced on Tuesday.
Chemistry
The recipient will be announced on Wednesday.
Literature
The recipient will be announced on Thursday.
Peace
The recipient will be announced on Friday.
Economic sciences
The recipient will be announced on Oct. 14.