The various Nobel laureates this year, along with the main prize winner

*Design by Manha Survery, Sheehan Banka, Prisha Jain, & Rhea Taneja*

Manha Survery, Editor-in-Chief, Prisha Jain, Staff Writer & Rhea Taneja, Staff Writer

When people hear “Nobel Prize,” most often think of peace soldiers, and treaties, but the Nobel Prize honors far more than peace: it also celebrates achievements in physics, chemistry, literature, and physiology and medicine.

Most people know what the Nobel Prize is, but very few know the storied history behind it. Alfred Bernard Nobel established the Nobel Prize in 1895. Bernard achieved fame as a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer, and businessman. He invented the Nobel Prize, dynamite, blasting caps, and gelignite.

In April 1888, Nobel's brother passed away, and a newspaper in Paris accidentally published Nobel's obituary and referred to him as the "merchant of death," because of his innovation of dynamite. The obituary described him as a man who found ways to kill more people faster than ever. This left him shaken - Nobel decided to ensure his legacy reflected more than just his invention. He rewrote his will and created the Nobel Prize, wishing to use his fortune to benefit the world.

Today, the Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize annually on Dec. 10 in Oslo, Norway, commemorating the anniversary of Nobel's death. Officials in Stockholm, Sweden, award the other Nobel Prizes on the same date. Each year, the prize recognizes a person or organization for their efforts to promote peace, protect human rights, and resolve conflicts. Thousands of people, including professors, politicians, and leaders of peace organizations, nominate candidates. After extensive research and discussion, the committee then announces the winner in October.

Marie Skłodowska Curie, Ernest Hemingway, and Malala Yousafzai are a few examples of luminaries who have earned this prize in the past.

The first woman to ever receive a Nobel Prize, Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium. Nurses and doctors used both of these elements to treat tumours, which saved millions of lives during World War I. For their findings in physics, Curie and her husband, Pierre Curie, earned the prize in 1903. In 1906, Curie lost her husband, but she continued their work and went on to become the first person to ever be awarded two Nobel Prizes. She received another Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911. Their daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, alongside her husband, Frédéric Joliot.

Another famous prize winner is American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist, Ernest Hemingway. He began his writing journey in high school and later worked as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. Due to a defective eye, military services repeatedly rejected Hemingway from joining. However, he managed to enter World War I as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross. On July 8th, he suffered an injury and went to a hospital in Milan. After resting at home, he began to write again, received mentorship from several authors, and sold his first book, a collection of stories called In Our Time. He continued to publish more of his books, many of which became famous. In 1954, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his influence on fiction writing.

Activist Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize, announced on October 10, 2014, and officially received the award at the ceremony in December 2014, becoming the youngest laureate ever. Under Taliban rule, the government prohibited many young girls' right to an education. Yousafzai kept a diary of the events, which a publisher, BBC released in 2009.

However, in 2012, conflict escalated in the region as the Taliban opposed the idea of Yousafzai being an advocate for girls' education, which eventually led to the Taliban targeting Malala. One day, while riding the bus to school, the Taliban shot her in the head. Fortunately, she survived, but after the Taliban issued a fatwa (a formal ruling or interpretation on a point of Islamic law given by a qualified legal scholar) against her, she moved to England for medical care, effectively living in exile. Malala led several efforts aiding girls in their right to education through the Malala Fund, which she co-founded. Additionally, on her 16th birthday, she spoke at the United Nations. In her speech, Yousafzai called for equal rights to education for girls all over the world, and has since become a remarkable symbol for this cause.

Although there is generally one person who wins the main Nobel Peace Prize, there are many other exemplary individuals who are honored for their work in various fields.

Throughout the years, Nobel institutions have honored laureates for their efforts to advance peace and human rights. Continuing that legacy, this year's winner is María Corina Machado. She earned the prize through her tireless work in Venezuela as an activist determined to fight for democratic rights. For the past two decades, Venezuela has been led by only two leaders, Hugo Chávez (1999–2013) and his successor Nicolás Maduro (2013–present). Under their control, the country has shifted to an authoritarian government. In response, many Venezuelans fled the country. This series of events led to the largest migration crisis in Latin American History.

Over the past year, Machado has remained in hiding within the country. Despite receiving threats to her life, she continues to fight for equality, inspiring many others. After authorities barred her from running for president in 2024, she continues to advocate for human rights, fair elections, and change.

The Nobel Prize honors individuals who make a positive difference in our world through their knowledge, courage, and drive. Marie Curie revolutionized science, Malala Yousafzai fought for education, and María Corina Machado advocated for democracy in Venezuela. The Nobel Prize not only recognizes one's groundbreaking achievements; it inspires all of us to take action, stand up for our beliefs, and leave an everlasting mark on the world that we live in.

Here are this year's laureates at a glance:

2025 Nobel laureates at a glance

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