Nobel Laureate Research Articles

100 Years since Robert Barany's visit to the Zaragoza medical faculty.

In December 1923, a twelve-day course took place at the University of Zaragoza, specifically at the Faculty of Medicine, given by Professor Róbert Bárány, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1914 for his discoveries on the vestibular apparatus. Professor Robert Bárány came to the faculty at the invitation of Professor Victor Fairén through the University Exchange programme. This course consisted of four lectures and twelve lessons a day in which he presented his knowledge of the physiopathology of the vestibule and cerebellum, as well as practical demonstrations of the physical examination of nystagmus and cerebellar pathology. Lorente de Nó, a doctorate student of medicine, was one of the most outstanding students on the course. His intellect was already outstanding in those years, which helped him to discuss the physiopathology of nystagmus with Professor Bárány. The relationship he forged with the Nobel laureate in Zaragoza would be decisive for his future as a researcher. The aim of this work is to compile and integrate the available information on the course that Professor Bárány took in the city of Zaragoza, consulting official documents from the university and the city, articles, books and the press of the time.

Recent Developments in the Use of High Pressures for the Production of Nanostructured Materials

The use of pressure to achieve superior properties in metals, especially for use in a range of weaponry, has a long history dating back to the artisans of ancient China and many parts of Asia. Nevertheless, scientific principles were not introduced until the classic experiments conducted by Nobel Laureate Professor Percy Bridgman at Harvard University almost 100 years ago and these experiments led directly to the development of metal processing through the procedure now known as high‐pressure torsion (HPT). This review provides a brief overview of the historical evolution of pressure as a convenient tool in metal‐working and then summarizes the major features associated with the processing of metals by HPT and, more recently, the torsional straining of stacked disks in HPT to produce a range of hybrid materials. Finally, there is a brief report on the development of the relatively new processing procedure of tube high‐pressure shearing (t‐HPS) which may be used for the fabrication of metal matrix composites.

Amīna and the Breaking of the Secular Silence: Revisiting The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz

ABSTRACT Following critiques of secularism, feminist theory and literary analysis, this article revisits the much interpreted yet never exhausted Arabic masterpiece, the Cairo Trilogy (1956–1957), by Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006). The Cairo Trilogy depicts the lives of the middle-class ʿAbd al-Jawād family in colonial Cairo during the interwar period amidst the process of modernization and national uprising against British colonial domination. Scholars have considered the relations in the Jawādī family through a patriarchal lens via the perspective of the son Kamāl, the protagonist who represents the secular Arab intellectual. This study, instead, follows Amīna, the mother of the family, and her relationship to her two sons, Kamāl and Fahmy, to explore the different options and various relations between the religious and the secular in this colonial context. By reading the Jawādī family this way, this article uncovers the orientalist-secular construction of religion and religious ways of resistance despite colonial disruptions.

Economists' Strong Advocacy for a Carbon Tax May Be Misguided

Many if not most economists, both conservative and liberal, support a carbon tax.1 As economist Alan Blinder recently remarked, “It's only a very slight exaggeration to say that all economists favor a carbon tax to mitigate climate change.” As this author discusses in this article, their position seems to overlook real‐world politics, bureaucratic incentives, and the “pretense of knowledge.”2 Advocates of a carbon tax seem to fall victim to what Nobel Laureate Ronald Coase labeled “blackboard economics”.3

Studying Lyrics as the True State of Subconscious Devotement to the God with a Special Reference to Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali, Song 1, 2 and 3

Rabindranath Tagore produced his literary manifestation through art, and vice versa. His artistic creation and literature are known in every corner of the literary world for their sublimity, mirth, vigour, rejuvenation, mourning, despair, death, connection with mankind, God, and nature, as an ensemble ecstasy of experiencing shades of life. Those ecstatic qualities of ultimate demonstration published Gitanjali in life in the year 1910 with 156 songs in togetherness, which brought Tagore the honour in 1913 of becoming the first Nobel laureate as an Asian in literature. Tagore has shown the world his musical devotion towards nature, love, humanity, and God. In every aspect of life, it has become relevant to its core and hidden subconsciousness. The true inspiration of Bhakti Andolon (Bhakti Movement), which made its resonance in the 16th century, especially in Bengal, was inculcated in the verses of Gitanjali, which murmur the sole devotee of Tagore at the feet of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the one who preserves the creation. The hearty samarpan (surrender) of a poetic persona like Rabindranath Tagore thoroughly influences readers, scholars, and researchers for the study of literary and psychological assessment simultaneously over the years. His choice of rendition through the words and gradual escalation towards the almighty signify the subconscious state of his core devotion as worship. It clearly seems Tagore’s conscious and deliberate movement from his own body to the cosmic devotion of Lord Krishna. This article aims to assess a brief study of the subconscious state of Tagore’s spiritual mind through his lyrics in Gitanjali, specifically in songs 1, 2, and 3. The descriptive research method is taken as the methodological approach for the study. For the expected substantiation of the stated facts, this article has taken a few references from anonymous sources as a secondary study of research.

Global Versus Regional Carbon Taxation: Exploring a Natural Experiment

The reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions has priority due to climate change. Scientists across disciplines promote carbon taxation or carbon pricing as an instrument to mitigate the negative externality of fossil energies. We exhibit two insufficiencies of today’s regulatory policy by utilizing a novel natural experiment. First, carbon taxation is only effective if it is implemented on a global scale because fossil energy markets and emissions are cross-border and global. Second, carbon taxation is based on an extrinsic mechanism and does not alter intrinsic behaviour sustainably. Our applied theory and modelling approach is corroborating these findings. The present regulatory approach is doomed to fail due to overambitious European countries and unambitious (partly realistic) rest of the world. Our interdisciplinary analysis unravels a new agenda to achieve the essential aim. What is needed is a global climate club, as proposed by Nobel Laureate William Nordhaus, with a least but global greenhouse gas reduction.

Antiquities in exile: Ottoman Greek refugees’ trauma and Ionian antiquities

Abstract This article contributes to our understanding of the links between forced exile, refugee trauma, and antiquities. It zooms in to the case of the Ottoman Greek refugees who fled to Greece in the wake of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the defeat of the Greek army by the Turkish National Movement forces in 1922. It critically discusses memories of ordinary people from Lithri (ancient Erythrai, modern-day Ildırı), Nymphaio (near ancient Sardeis, modern-day Kemalpaşa), and Ayasolouk (ancient Ephesus, modern-day Selçuk). It also looks at aspects of the literary world of Smyrna-born poet and Nobel Laureate George Seferis. It is argued that, for these refugees, antiquities served as conduits, symbols, metaphors, and allegories for expressing the trauma linked to their state of uprootedness and forced exile. The refugees in question employed reverse “rescue archaeologies,” where it was for antiquities to salvage refugees rather than the other way round. The main primary material consulted consists of refugee testimonies from the Oral Tradition Archive of the Centre for Asia Minor Studies and Seferis’s diary. The approach is interdisciplinary and, besides Ottoman Greek history, draws on cultural geography, anthropology, archaeology as well as broader discussions in memory studies and critical heritage studies.

THEMATIC FEATURE OF TURKISH WRITER ORHAN PAMUK'S NOVELS

Literature bridges cultures, unveiling traditions and customs across the globe. The novels of Orhan Pamuk, a prominent Turkish author, transcend linguistic barriers, offering insights into Turkish literature. Pamuk, renowned for his mastery of the novel genre, is among many accomplished Turkish novelists like Reshat Nuri Guntekin, Khalid Oedipus Adyvar, Aka Gunduz, Peyami Safa, Yashar Kemal, Orhan Kemal, Tarik Bugra, and Adalet Agaolu. Post-1980s writers like Ahmet Altan, Ahmet Yurdakul, Latif Tekin, and Nobel laureate Orkhon Pamuk have further enriched Turkish literature. This article delves into the life and work of a writer, exploring their themes and contributions.

The farce of the commons? Corporate rights, political wrongs and common-pool resources in English towns, 1835–1870

ABSTRACT The 1832 Reform Act and the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act reconfigured political representation in English towns from a ‘franchise’ system (based on rights of corporate freedom) to a property-based ratepaying electorate. This shift also undermined the rights of freemen to urban common lands and resources, which were linked to pre-existing forms of representation. This issue links directly to debates in economic history about use-rights and the preservation of common-pool resources (CPRs). Supporters of Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom argue that such common resources could be preserved because this was the most rational economic choice facing their users. Critics have asserted that the fate of such economic resources was dictated by the historically contingent social, economic and political forces within them, not abstract economic rationality. This article assesses these arguments through a micro-study of the commons in the Yorkshire borough of Beverley between 1835 and 1870. New legislation ensured that these lands were managed in line with Ostrom’s principles of transparency and accountability. Despite this, they became entangled in wholesale, organised political corruption, exposed by a detailed Parliamentary enquiry in 1868. The article investigates this contradiction to explore how far ‘institutions’ could remain autonomous within a highly contested political ‘space’.

Reconstructing human history from ancient genomes: an interview with Nobel laureate Svante Pääbo

NSR's interview with 2022 Nobel laureate Svante Pääbo to learn about his interesting works in ancient hominine genomes, his perspectives on paleo genome studies and his advice to young researchers.

Organotransition Metal Chemistry of Terpenes: Syntheses, Structures, Reactivity and Molecular Rearrangements.

The impact of organometallic chemistry on the terpene field only really blossomed in the 1960s and 1970s with the realisation that carbon-carbon bond formation under mild conditions could be achieved by using nickel or iron carbonyls as synthetic reagents. Concomitantly, the development of palladium derivatives capable of the controlled coupling of isoprene units attracted the attention of numerous highly talented researchers, including future Nobel laureates. We discuss briefly how early work on the syntheses of simple monoterpenes soon progressed to sesquiterpenes and diterpenes of increasing complexity, such as humulene, flexibilene, vitamin A, or pheromones of commercial value, in particular those used in perfumery (muscone, lavandulol), or grandisol and red scale pheromone as replacements for harmful pesticides. As the field progressed, there has been more emphasis on developing organometallic routes to enantiopure rather than racemic products, as well as gaining precise mechanistic data on the transformations, notably the course of metal-promoted molecular rearrangements that have long been a feature of terpene chemistry. We note the impact of the enormously enhanced analytical techniques, high-field NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and their use to re-examine the originally proposed structures of terpenes and their organometallic derivatives. Finally, we highlight the very recent ground-breaking use of the crystalline sponge method to acquire structural data on low-melting or volatile terpenes. The literature cited herein covers the period 1959 to 2023.

The power of education: reflections from a Nobel laureate

The power of education: reflections from a Nobel laureate

The Entangled Histories of the Nobel Prize in Literature and PEN

Abstract Drawing on archival records, this paper explores the interrelation and modes of interaction between two major institutions of world literature: the Nobel Prize and PEN, with special attention paid to Swedish PEN and its activities from 1950 into the 1970s. While the Nobel Prize lent prestige to the newly founded PEN Club in the 1920s, insofar as Nobel laureates were recruited as honorary members, PEN in turn – and Swedish PEN in particular – became a highly successful nominator of candidates for the Nobel Prize from 1950 onwards. A striking correspondence between the activities of Swedish PEN and the Swedish Academy’s decisions suggests that the academy oriented itself towards PEN and the circuits of recognition it (re)presented in awarding the Nobel Prize. It also points to the significance of networks and value brokers on a local level and what might be called the ‘glocal’ management of the Nobel Prize.

Nobel Prize paradox: Nobel Prize, not a noble prize

The Nobel Prize is one of the most sought-after awards in science and society. However, its reputation is not without complexities, including constraints on laureates and biases in nominations. Navigating the delicate balance between recognition and the tangible impacts of awarded contributions should offer insight into the Prize's significance beyond mere prestige and monetary value. While other awards may boast higher financial rewards, they often lack the same level of prestige. The inclusion of public figures as laureates and the extensive media coverage surrounding the Nobel Prize may further elevate its perceived importance, though this may hide a more nuanced reality. Additionally, the positive associations linked to the name “Nobel” resembling the adjective “noble” can enhance the award's prestige. This subtle connection to “nobility” adds a layer of honor and distinction to the Prize, contributing to its perceived significance and prestige. Moreover, the overrepresentation of Nobel laureates from specific countries prompts scrutiny over the fulfillment of Nobel's testament, which prioritizes contributions to global well-being. This discrepancy raises questions about the inclusivity and global impact of the Prize.

“What is Proper to a Culture”

This article considers sociocultural identity and identification in the work of Jacques Derrida. Though Derrida’s philosophy is often presented as a source of inspiration for identity politics, Derrida’s precise position on identity is far from evident. This discussion will unpack his account of identity through a dialogue with the work of Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate in economics and moral philosopher, known for his capabilities approach. In spite of their philosophical differences, I propose that Sen and Derrida share strikingly similar views about identity. Descriptively, they both understand sociocultural identity as inherently hybrid, anti-essentialist and plural. Sen’s argument for this is based on empirical and historical examples, while Derrida’s focuses on the relationship between cultural identity and the other. Their shared understanding of identity is reflected in a similar normative argument: we should consciously select our identities, so as to protect the plural nature of identities. In the case of Sen, this is accomplished through reason. Derrida takes a broader understanding of this, based on his concept of inheritance. I propose that inheritance needs to be interpreted as involving active and critical deliberation on identity and that this is an ethical dimension of Derrida’s work. I conclude by pointing to the potential for future dialogue between Sen and Derrida, the need to reflect further on the normative aspects of inheritance and the potential for their work to inform identity politics.

Mathematical and Linguistic Characterization of Orhan Pamuk’s Nobel Works

In this study, Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk’s works are chosen as examples of Turkish literature. By counting the number of letters and words in his texts, we find it possible to study his works statistically. It has been known that there is a geometrical order in text structures. Here, the method based on the basic assumption of fractal geometry is introduced for calculating the fractal dimensions of Pamuk’s texts. The results are compared with the applications of Zipf’s law, which is successfully applied for letters and words, where two concepts, namely Zipf’s dimension and Zipf’s order, are introduced. The Zipf dimension of the novel _My Name is Red_ is found to be much different than his other novels. However, it is linguistically observed that there is no fundamental difference between his corpora. The results are interpreted in terms of fractal dimensions and the Turkish language.

Сердечные мотивы в творчестве Иосифа Бродского

The paper analyzes a number of poems by Joseph Brodsky that have not been previously investigated in detail by philologists and examines certain motifs and images that cause discrepancies in critics’ interpretations. The study aims to understand the poet’s creative work through a new perspective, to some extent, in a more “materialistic” and “physiological” way, which affects the emotional charge of the Nobel laureate’s main motifs. The study also aims to identify the role played by “heart” motifs in shaping Brodsky’s figurative and metaphorical world of poetry. The paper reinterprets the traditional connotations of heart imagery (life, death, pain, etc.) and shows how Brodsky’s worldview was shaped by the heart attacks, illnesses, and surgeries he endured. The scientific novelty of the study lies in its deep and detailed analysis of the system of motifs and images in Brodsky’s poetry, offering explanations for some obscurities in his poems that have caused significant difficulties and variations of meaning among critics. As a result, it has been proved that the philosophical inspiration of the persona and Brodsky’s overall poetic world is due to an alternative interpretation and understanding of heart imagery, endowing it with unique, Brodsky-specific connotations that form a dominant parallel between the poet and the heart.

New Avenues in Stakeholder Governance

Bridoux and Stoelhorst (2022) employ Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom’s institutional design principles to develop two models of stakeholder governance. They argue that these “community governance” models will help achieve a fairer distribution of stakeholder value compared with approaches that centralize governance in the hands of management. We identify four characteristics, however, that thwart any straightforward application of these community governance models to business firms: ease of exit; lack of legacy social capital; heterogeneity of interests; and power imbalances. We then conclude, following Ostrom herself, that governance often requires external institutional arrangements that stakeholder theorists have not fully appreciated.

Arno Penzias—Nobel laureate—Co-discoverer of the cosmic microwave background radiation and researcher of the chemistry of the sky

Arno Penzias—Nobel laureate—Co-discoverer of the cosmic microwave background radiation and researcher of the chemistry of the sky

The Second Leontief Paradox: Economic Theory or Economic Engineering?

The article analyzes the situation, conventionally called the "Second Leontief Paradox", when a recognized scientist, Nobel laureate and undisputed authority in the academic environment, it turns out, has practically no place in modern economic theory - neither within the "mainstream" nor in unorthodox directions. This paradox is considered in the context of four questions: (1) does Leontief have a “theory” at all; (2) to which theoretical school Leontief belongs or at least gravitates; (3) what is the main factor in the formation of the paradox under consideration; (4) what are the prospects for Leontief's approach in macroeconomics. To understand this paradox, it is proposed to use the terms introduced by G. Mankiw - an economist as a scientist and an economist as an engineer. It is concluded that there is still a gap between "theory" and "engineering" in economics. It is assumed that such a gap, including in connection with the rapid growth of a large amount of economic data and universal digitalization, may gradually decrease.