Here are the 11 youngest winners of a scientific Nobel Prize, with a quick, interesting ‘did you know’ fact about each of them. And also: • The teenager whose work won a Nobel Prize in physics. • The youngest woman to win a science Nobel Prize. • The youngest winner in each of the three science categories: • Physics • Physiology or Medicine • Chemistry The 11 Youngest Nobel Laureates Age 25: Lawrence Bragg Australian-born British physicist. Lawrence Bragg won the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays.’ Did you know? While working as a physics professor in London, Bragg took part-time employment as a gardener, because he enjoyed gardening so much. Age 31: Werner Heisenberg German theoretical physicist. Werner Heisenberg won the 1932 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘the creation of quantum mechanics…’ Did you know? With his uncertainty principle, Heisenberg showed we can never know everything about a particle exactly. Although Albert Einstein did not like it, Heisenberg showed that God is continuously playing dice with the universe. Age 31: Paul A.M. Dirac British theoretical physicist. Paul Dirac won the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory.’ Did you know? Dirac was a man of few words. He only spoke when it was necessary. In his highly readable biography of Richard Feynman, James Gleick reports a journalist’s interview with Dirac: Journalist: “Now Doctor, will you give me in a few words the low-down on all your investigations?” Dirac: “No.” Journalist: “Good. Will it be alright if I put it this way – ‘Professor Dirac solves all the problems of mathematical physics, but is unable to find a better way of figuring out Babe Ruth’s batting average’?” Dirac: “Yes.” Journalist: “Do you go to the movies?” Dirac: “Yes.” Journalist: “When?” Dirac: “In 1920 – perhaps also in 1930.” Age 31: Carl D. Anderson American physicist. Carl Anderson won the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics for his ‘discovery of the positron.’ Did you know? In addition to discovering the positron in 1932, four years later, Anderson discovered the muon. Age 31: Tsung-Dao Lee Chinese-born American physicist. Tsung-Dao Lee won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for his ‘penetrating investigation of the so-called parity laws which has led to important discoveries regarding the elementary particles.’ Did you know? Lee’s Ph.D. supervisor was Enrico Fermi, who won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics at the age of 37. Age 32: Rudolf Mössbauer German physicist. Rudolf Mössbauer won the 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics for his ‘researches concerning the resonance absorption of gamma radiation and his discovery in this connection of the effect which bears his name.’ Did you know? Mössbauer discovered the Mössbauer effect when, as a Ph.D. student, he ignored his professor’s advice about the experimental equipment he should use. Age 32: Frederick G. Banting Canadian surgeon and medical research scientist. Frederick G. Banting won the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for ‘the discovery of insulin.’ Did you know? Banting failed his first year at university. During World War 1, he was awarded the Military Cross for his heroic actions in helping wounded men. Age 33: Brian D. Josephson British theoretical physicist. Brian Josephson won the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘theoretical predictions of the properties of a supercurrent through a tunnel barrier, in particular those phenomena which are generally known as the Josephson effects.’ Image courtesy Brian D. Josephson. Did you know? Josephson was still a Ph.D. student, aged 22, when he did the work that led to his Nobel Prize. Age 33: Joshua Lederberg American molecular biologist. Joshua Lederberg won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for ‘discoveries concerning genetic recombination and the organization of the genetic material of bacteria.’ Did you know? Joshua Lederberg graduated from high school when he was 15 and was awarded his university degree when he was 19. Age 34: Donald A. Glaser American physicist. Donald Glaser won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘the invention of the bubble chamber.’ Did you know? Glaser was not interested in just physics; he switched fields and became a professor of molecular biology. Age 34: James Watson American molecular biologist. James Watson won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for ‘discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.’ Did you know? Watson was only 15 when he enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. Youngest Nobel Prize for Chemistry Age 35: Frédéric Joliot-Curie French chemist/physicist. Frédéric Joliot won the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for ‘synthesis of new radioactive elements.’ Did you know? Frédéric Joliot-Curie changed his name from Joliot to Joliot-Curie when he married Marie Curie’s daughter Irène. Frédéric and Irène shared the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Irène was 38 at the time. Youngest Scientific Nobel Prize for a Woman Age 36: Marie Curie Polish chemist/physicist. Marie Curie won the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘researches on the radiation phenomena.’ Did you know? Marie Curie also won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She is the only person to have won both prizes. Youngest age at which Nobel Prize Winning Work was Carried Out Age 19: Subramanyan Chandrasekhar Indian-born American physicist. Subramanyan Chandrasekhar won the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics for ‘his theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars.’ He carried out the work aged just 19 on a ship traveling from India to Britain to begin working for a Ph.D. in physics. Did you know? Chandrasekhar’s uncle was C.V. Raman, who won the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics at the age of 42. Summing Up • If you want to win young, it looks like physics is the best option. • In recent years it’s been getting harder for ‘youngsters’ to win the Nobel Prize; the most recent Nobel Prize on our list is from over 40 years ago. • The 11 youngest won in: 1915, 1923, 1932 (twice), 1933, 1938, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1973. Source
