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NOBEL PRIZES
2018
 12 new laureates have been awarded for
achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit
to humankind.
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018

Tools made of light

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 was awarded “for groundbreaking inventions in the field of
laser physics” with one half to Arthur Ashkin “for the optical tweezers and their application to
biological systems” and the other half jointly to Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland “for their
method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses”.

Their inventions have revolutionised laser physics. Extremely small objects and incredibly rapid
processes are now being seen in a new light. Advanced precision instruments are opening up
unexplored areas of research and a multitude of industrial and medical applications.

Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland

Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018

The 2018 Laureates

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 was awarded with one half to Frances H. Arnold "for the
directed evolution of enzymes" and the other half jointly to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P.
Winter "for the phage display of peptides and antibodies."

Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter

Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media

Power of evolution
This year’s Nobel Laureates have been inspired by the power of evolution and used the same
principles – genetic change and selection – to develop proteins that solve humankind’s chemical
problems.

© Johan Jarnestad / The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2018

Cancer therapy: Releasing the

brakes of immunity
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2018 was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku
Honjo "for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation." The
Laureates has shown how different strategies for inhibiting the brakes on the immune system can
be used in the treatment of cancer. Their discoveries are a landmark in our fight against cancer.

© The Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine. Illustrator: Mattias Karlén

Nobel Peace Prize 2018

Courageously combating war

crimes and seeking justice for
victims
Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war
crimes. Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia
Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. Each of them
in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the
perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.
Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad

Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media

The Prize in Economic Sciences 2018

Integrating innovation and

climate with economic growth
This year’s Laureates have designed methods for addressing some of our time’s most basic and
pressing questions about how we create long-term sustained and sustainable economic growth.
Their contributions provide us with fundamental insights into the causes and consequences of
technological innovation and climate change.

© Johan Jarnestad / The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The 2018 Laureates in

Economic Sciences
The Prize in Economic Sciences 2018 has been awarded to William D. Nordhaus "for integrating
climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis" and Paul M. Romer "for integrating
technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis." Their findings have
significantly broadened the scope of economic analysis by constructing models that explain how
the market economy interacts with nature and knowledge.

William D. Nordhaus and Paul M. Romer

Ill. Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media

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About the Nobel Prize organisation
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