{"id":4087,"date":"2026-01-06T00:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=4087"},"modified":"2026-01-07T11:56:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T06:26:52","slug":"nobel-prize-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/nobel-prize-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Nobel Prize 2021, Chemistry, Economics, Winners List"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Nobel Prizes 2021<\/strong>\u00a0were given to individuals and teams for their contributions in different fields. These prizes were started by a scientist from\u00a0Sweden\u00a0<\/strong>named\u00a0Alfred Nobel,<\/strong>\u00a0who wanted to celebrate people who made big accomplishments in areas like\u00a0Literature, Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Economics<\/strong>, and in\u00a0Peace<\/strong>. The funds for the awards are provided through a will crafted by Alfred Nobel.<\/p>\r\n

The Swedish Academy<\/strong>\u00a0gives the prize for literature, the\u00a0Karolinska Institute\u00a0<\/strong>for medicine or physiology, and the\u00a0Royal Swedish Academy\u00a0<\/strong>of Sciences gives the prizes for physics, chemistry, and economics. The Nobel Peace Prize is given by the\u00a0Oslo-based Norwegian Nobel Committee.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

List of Nobel Prize 2021<\/h2>\r\n

In the year 2021, a total of thirteen individuals have been honoured with these six distinguished prizes.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Field<\/strong><\/td>\r\nWinners<\/strong><\/td>\r\nAwarded For<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Physiology\/Medicine<\/strong><\/td>\r\nDavid Julius and Ardem Patapoutian<\/td>\r\nDiscoveries of receptors for temperature and touch<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Physics<\/strong><\/td>\r\nSyukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi<\/td>\r\nUnderstanding of complex physical systems<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Chemistry<\/strong><\/td>\r\nBenjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan<\/td>\r\nDevelopment of asymmetric organocatalysis<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Literature<\/strong><\/td>\r\nAbdulrazak Gurnah<\/td>\r\nEffects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Peace<\/strong><\/td>\r\nMaria Ressa and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov<\/td>\r\nEfforts to safeguard freedom of expression<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Economics<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

- David Card<\/p>\r\n

- Joshua D. Angrist and Guido W. Imbens<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

- Empirical contributions to labour economics<\/p>\r\n

- The methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021<\/h2>\r\n

David Julius (left)\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Ardem Patapoutian (right)<\/strong>, share the 2021 prize in Medicine for their work on\u00a0sensing touch and temperature.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The Nobel Laureates<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  • David Julius<\/strong>, an American physiologist<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Ardem Patapoutian<\/strong>, an Armenian-American molecular biologist and neuroscientist<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Research<\/h3>\r\n

    The intriguing properties of\u00a0capsaicin<\/strong>, a compound found in chilli peppers, known for inducing a burning sensation were explored.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • Julius\u00a0<\/strong>created a vast library of DNA fragments corresponding to genes expressed in sensory neurons responsive to pain, heat, and touch.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Through rigorous experimentation, it was identified that a\u00a0single gene is capable of granting capsaicin sensitivity to cells<\/strong>\u00a0that do not normally respond to it.\r\n\r\n
        \r\n\t
      • This breakthrough led to the discovery of\u00a0TRPV1 (Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1)<\/strong>, a novel ion channel activated by painful heat.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • TRPV1 proved to be a critical link in understanding how\u00a0differences in temperature can generate electrical signals<\/strong>\u00a0in the nervous system, particularly those perceived as painful.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
        \"Capsaicin<\/figure>\r\n
          \r\n\t
        • Later, the receptors responsible for detecting mechanical stimuli, such as touch and pressure were unravelled by\u00a0Patapoutian\u00a0<\/strong>and his collaborators.<\/li>\r\n\t
        • They also identified a\u00a0cell line capable of producing an electric signal\u00a0<\/strong>when individually probed with a micropipette.<\/li>\r\n\t
        • They recognised 72 candidate genes associated with possible mechanoreceptors, systematically silencing each to pinpoint the responsible gene.\r\n\r\n
            \r\n\t
          • Their efforts culminated in the\u00a0discovery of Piezo1<\/strong>, an unknown mechanosensitive ion channel.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
          • Building on Piezo1, a second gene,\u00a0Piezo2<\/strong>, was identified, both of which were found to be directly\u00a0activated by pressure applied<\/strong>\u00a0to cell membranes.\r\n\r\n
              \r\n\t
            • Piezo2 emerged as a linchpin in our sense of touch, proprioception (body position awareness), and other vital physiological processes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
              \"Touch<\/figure>\r\n

              Impact<\/h3>\r\n
                \r\n\t
              • The groundbreaking discoveries of TRPV1, TRPM8, and Piezo channels have fundamentally altered our understanding of\u00a0how our nervous system processes temperature, touch, and mechanical force<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
                  \r\n\t
                • These channels regulate processes like blood pressure, respiration, and urinary bladder control.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                  \"Temperature<\/figure>\r\n

                  Ongoing research, stemming from these Nobel Prize-awarded breakthroughs, aims to elucidate their roles in various physiological processes, offering potential insights for treating conditions such as chronic pain.<\/p>\r\n

                  Nobel Prize in Physics 2021<\/h2>\r\n

                  The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 was awarded \"for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems,\" with\u00a0one half\u00a0<\/strong>jointly to\u00a0Syukuro Manabe (right)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Klaus Hasselmann (left)<\/strong>\u00a0\"for physical modelling of Earth\u2019s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming,\" and the\u00a0other half<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0Giorgio Parisi (middle),\u00a0<\/strong>\"for the discovery of interplay of disorder and the fluctuations in physical systems from an atomic to planetary scale.\"<\/p>\r\n

                  \"Nobel<\/figure>\r\n

                  The Nobel Laureates<\/h3>\r\n
                    \r\n\t
                  • Syukuro Manabe<\/strong>, Princeton University, USA<\/li>\r\n\t
                  • Klaus Hasselmann<\/strong>, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Germany<\/li>\r\n\t
                  • Giorgio Parisi<\/strong>, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                    Research<\/h3>\r\n

                    The research laid the foundation of\u00a0our knowledge of the Earth\u2019s climate<\/strong>\u00a0and how\u00a0humanity influences\u00a0<\/strong>it.<\/p>\r\n

                      \r\n\t
                    • Manabe and Hasselmann<\/strong>\u00a0significantly progressed our understanding of\u00a0Earth's climate\u00a0<\/strong>and its\u00a0response to increased carbon dioxide levels<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
                        \r\n\t
                      • Manabe's work in the 1960s laid the groundwork for\u00a0contemporary climate models<\/strong>, revolutionising climate science.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Hasselmann's model\u00a0integrated weather and climate predictions<\/strong>, resolving the paradox of reliable long-term climate modelling despite weather chaos.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • The investigations into the interaction between radiation balance and air mass transport provided crucial insights into\u00a0how greenhouse gases influence Earth's surface temperature.<\/strong>\r\n
                          \r\n\t
                        • These innovative methods\u00a0identified distinct signals or \"fingerprints\" in the climate<\/strong>, crucial in affirming the role of\u00a0human-induced CO2<\/strong>\u00a0emissions in global temperature rise.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                          \"Manabe\u2019s<\/figure>\r\n
                            \r\n\t
                          • Parisi's\u00a0<\/strong>groundbreaking work on\u00a0disordered materialsand random processes\u00a0<\/strong>vastly advanced our understanding of\u00a0complex systems<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
                              \r\n\t
                            • Complex systems<\/strong>\u00a0are composed of many components which may interact with each other characterised by\u00a0randomness\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0disorder\u00a0<\/strong>and are difficult to understand.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                            • His contributions provided a\u00a0framework for understanding random systems,<\/strong>\u00a0revealing their\u00a0underlying principles<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0behaviour<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                              \"Disordered<\/figure>\r\n

                              Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021<\/h2>\r\n

                              The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 was awarded jointly to\u00a0Benjamin List (left)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0David W.C. MacMillan (right)<\/strong>\u00a0\"for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis\". This method uses small, environmentally friendly molecules to help produce new substances like medicines, plastics, perfumes, and food flavours.<\/p>\r\n

                              \"Nobel<\/figure>\r\n

                              The Nobel Laureates<\/h3>\r\n
                                \r\n\t
                              • Benjamin List<\/strong>, a German chemist.<\/li>\r\n\t
                              • David W.C. MacMillan<\/strong>, Princeton University, USA.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                Organocatalysis<\/h3>\r\n
                                  \r\n\t
                                • Catalysis<\/strong>\u00a0is a process that accelerates chemical reactions without being consumed in the process.\r\n\r\n
                                    \r\n\t
                                  • Traditional catalysts<\/strong>\u00a0included heavy metals and large enzymes, but the\u00a0new asymmetric organocatalysis<\/strong>\u00a0method is better because it's smaller, cheaper, and greener.\r\n\r\n
                                      \r\n\t
                                    • It helps create specific forms of molecules, particularly useful in making medicines.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                    • In 2000,\u00a0List and MacMillan<\/strong>\u00a0developed a new way to speed up chemical reactions using organic catalysts made of stable carbon structures.\r\n\r\n
                                        \r\n\t
                                      • These catalysts contain active groups made of elements like oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, or phosphorus. They're eco-friendly and cost-effective to make.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                      • This method, called Organocatalysis, introduces a third way to speed up reactions alongside metals and enzymes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                      • Organocatalysis<\/strong>\u00a0is crucial for making medicines and other chemicals in a specific form. It's become widely used and helps reactions happen efficiently.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                                        \"Proline\"<\/figure>\r\n
                                          \r\n\t
                                        • Proline\u00a0<\/strong>is an\u00a0organic acid<\/strong>\u00a0classed as a proteinogenic amino acid (used in the\u00a0biosynthesis of proteins<\/strong>), although it does not contain the amino group but is rather a secondary amine.\r\n\r\n
                                            \r\n\t
                                          • Proline and its derivatives are often used as\u00a0asymmetric catalysts in proline organocatalysis reactions<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
                                              \r\n\t
                                            • For example:<\/strong>\u00a0CBS reduction and proline-catalysed aldol condensation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                                              \"Organocatalyst\"<\/figure>\r\n
                                                \r\n\t
                                              • Applications:<\/strong>\r\n
                                                  \r\n\t
                                                • Organocatalysis, advanced by List and MacMillan, plays a crucial role in efficiently making pharmaceuticals and various molecules for applications like solar cells.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                • Their contributions in organocatalysis significantly benefit humanity by enhancing the production of vital compounds for industries such as pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                  Nobel Prize in Literature 2021<\/h2>\r\n

                                                  The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2021 is awarded to\u00a0Abdulrazak Gurnah<\/strong>, a novelist, born in Zanzibar and who works in England, \u201cfor his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of refugees in the gulf between cultures and continents\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

                                                  \"Nobel<\/figure>\r\n

                                                  Abdulrazak Gurnah<\/h3>\r\n
                                                    \r\n\t
                                                  • He examines the enduring\u00a0consequences of colonial rule<\/strong>\u00a0on individuals and communities.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                  • Gurnah's narratives provide a unique perspective on the\u00a0complexities and nuances of post-colonial societies<\/strong>, shedding light on the historical, social, and cultural dimensions that continue to shape lives.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                  • Gurnah's work sensitively explores the\u00a0plight of refugees<\/strong>, highlighting their struggles, resilience, and the challenges they face when trying to find a sense of belonging in foreign lands.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                  • Books:\u00a0<\/strong>Memory of Departure, Pilgrims' Way, Dottie, Paradise.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                    Nobel Prize in Peace 2021<\/h2>\r\n

                                                    The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 was awarded jointly to\u00a0Maria Ressa (left) and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov (right)<\/strong>\u00a0\"for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace\".<\/p>\r\n

                                                    \"Nobel<\/figure>\r\n

                                                    The Nobel Laureates<\/h3>\r\n
                                                      \r\n\t
                                                    • Maria Ressa<\/strong>\u00a0is a Filipino and American journalist. She is the CEO and co-founder of Rappler.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                    • Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov<\/strong>\u00a0is a Russian editor-in-chief of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                      Maria Ressa<\/h3>\r\n

                                                      She fearlessly\u00a0exposed\u00a0<\/strong>the\u00a0abuse of power and authoritarianism<\/strong>\u00a0in her native country.<\/p>\r\n

                                                        \r\n\t
                                                      • Investigated a controversial\u00a0anti-drug campaign<\/strong>\u00a0led by the Duterte regime.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                      • Exposed the use of social media for spreading fake news<\/strong>\u00a0and manipulating public discourse.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                        Dmitry Muratov<\/h3>\r\n

                                                        He served as editor-in-chief for a total of 24 years,\u00a0defending freedom of speech in Russia<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

                                                          \r\n\t
                                                        • He provided\u00a0fact-based journalism<\/strong>, shedding light on critical issues in Russian society.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                        • He withstood harassment, threats, and violence, maintaining the newspaper's independent stance.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                          Nobel Prize in Economics 2021<\/h2>\r\n

                                                          The Nobel Prize in Economics 2021 was divided, one half awarded to\u00a0David Card (middle)<\/strong>\u00a0\"for his empirical contributions to labour economics\", and the other half jointly to\u00a0Joshua D. Angrist (right)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Guido W. Imbens (left)<\/strong>\u00a0\"for their contributions to the analysis of causal relationships\".<\/p>\r\n

                                                          \"Nobel<\/figure>\r\n

                                                          The Nobel Laureates<\/h3>\r\n
                                                            \r\n\t
                                                          • David Card<\/strong>, University of California, Berkeley, USA<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                          • Joshua D. Angrist,<\/strong>\u00a0an Israeli-American economist at MIT, USA<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                          • Guido W. Imbens<\/strong>, a Dutch-American economist at Stanford University, USA<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                            Labour Economics<\/h3>\r\n

                                                            Labour economics is the\u00a0study of the labour force<\/strong>\u00a0as an element in the\u00a0process of production.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

                                                              \r\n\t
                                                            • David Card was honoured for his significant contributions to the field of\u00a0labour economics.<\/strong>\r\n
                                                                \r\n\t
                                                              • By harnessing the power of natural experiments, he\u00a0examined the impact of<\/strong>\u00a0factors such as\u00a0minimum wage adjustments<\/strong>,\u00a0immigration trends<\/strong>, and\u00a0educational policies\u00a0<\/strong>on the labour market.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                              • His groundbreaking findings contradicted earlier studies, demonstrating that\u00a0increasing the minimum wage does not necessarily lead to a reduction in job opportunities.<\/strong>\r\n
                                                                  \r\n\t
                                                                • Card's work\u00a0disproved the common belief that immigrants lead to lower wages for native-born workers<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                                • Instead, he revealed that the\u00a0income of native-born workers can benefit from new immigration<\/strong>, while earlier immigrants may face potential negative effects.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                                • He\u00a0highlighted the critical importance of resources in educational institutions<\/strong>, asserting that they play a far more significant role in students' future labour market success than previously believed.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                                                  Analysis of Causal Relationships<\/h3>\r\n

                                                                  The other half of the prize was jointly awarded to Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens for their significant contributions to the\u00a0analysis of causal relationships<\/strong>, specifically the intricate links between\u00a0cause and effect.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

                                                                    \r\n\t
                                                                  • Their expertise was fundamental in making sense of data obtained from\u00a0natural experiments<\/strong>, a particularly challenging task given that researchers lack control over the experiment itself.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                                                  • Unlike controlled clinical trials or randomised control trials,\u00a0natural experiments present complexities in drawing precise conclusions<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0establishing causal connections.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                                                                  • Angrist and Imbens adeptly addressed this\u00a0methodological obstacle<\/strong>, demonstrating how precise cause-and-effect conclusions can indeed be derived from natural experiments.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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