The 2024 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to two American scientists, adding to the United States' domination of the awards, as shown in a Newsweek global map of winners.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun received the prize for their discovery of microRNA, tiny pieces of genetic material that help to regulate gene activity at the cellular level.
The discovery may lead to new approaches to treating diseases such as cancer.
Ambros conducted the research while at Harvard University. He is now a professor of natural science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Ruvkun's work took place at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he is a professor of genetics.
The winners were announced by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
"The seminal discovery of microRNA has introduced a new and unexpected mechanism of gene regulation," said Olle Kämpe, vice chair of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine.
"MicroRNAs are important for our understanding of embryological development, normal cell physiology, and diseases such as cancer."
This year's award is the 115th Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine since 1901. Only 13 of the 229 winners have been women.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in physics is set to be announced on Tuesday, with the chemistry prize on Wednesday.
To mark the awards, Newsweek has created a map to show where the most Nobel Prize winners come from, using data gathered by BatchGeo.
The U.S. leads the charge and has racked up the most awards, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany.
The categories for the award include physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. There is also the prize in economic sciences, created in 1968.
Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine
Hungarian-American biochemist Katalin Karikó and American physician Drew Weissman won the prize "for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19."
Nobel Prize in physics
Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L'Huillier "for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter."
Nobel Prize in chemistry
Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov "for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots."
Nobel Prize in literature
Jon Fosse "for his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unsayable."
Nobel Peace Prize
Narges Mohammadi "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all."
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
Claudia Goldin "for having advanced our understanding of women's labor market outcome."
The Nobel Peace Prize originated from the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor known for inventing dynamite. In his will, written in 1895, Nobel specified that a portion of his fortune should be allocated to the establishment of prizes to honor those who contributed significantly to humanity.
The peace prize was first awarded in 1901, and it is presented annually in Oslo, Norway. Nobel intended to reward individuals or organizations who had worked to promote peace and resolve conflicts, reflecting his desire to counteract the destructive potential of his inventions. The peace prize is one of several prizes established by Nobel's will, which also includes the awards for physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature.
Nobel wrote in his will that the peace prize would go to those "who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace."
Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi won the peace prize in 2023. Mohammadi has been in and out of prison for the last decade and is currently serving a 10-year sentence on false charges of "spreading propaganda." Mohammadi has been described as one of the leaders of a mass protest movement against Iranian authorities after they cracked down on how women are allowed to behave and dress.
The Nobel Prize funds originate from Nobel, who wanted his fortune to be invested in a fund dedicated to the prizes.
The interest generated from this fund is utilized to award the prizes today.
The winners will receive a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor, which is nearly $993,000.