The Nobel Prize 2002

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 7:08 am

The Nobel prize in chemistry goes to scientists who have contributed to our understanding and imaging of proteins, thereby paving the way for a revolution in the pharmaceutical industry as well as diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. The new scientific discipline proteomics will probably be one of the most dominating life sciences for some time to come. HGP (Human Genome Project, the mapping of the human genome) and all was fine, but HUPO (Human Proteome Organization) will take us even closer to the essence of life

The laurates are John B. Fenn and Koichi Tanaka "for their development of soft desorption ionisation methods for mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules" and Kurt Wüthrich "for his development of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for determining the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules in solution”.

Read more here:
http://www.nobel.se/chemistry/laureates ... ublic.html

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
You never know though, I mean it's not like they have news on the hour every hour

LOL

Exactly, someone discovered it, at worst steal their identity and claim the prize.

I think though I might be better aiming a little lower any suggestions?

I'd like to see somebody steal Richard Feynman's or Eric Kandel's identity!

Especially I'd like to hear a lad from Wales imitate Kandel's old Brooklyn accent

If you feel you should aim a little lower, there are other awards than the Noble price, just choose your subject - the Marie Curie prize, perhaps?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 7:39 am

Originally posted by C Elegans
I'd like to see somebody steal Richard Feynman's or Eric Kandel's identity! Especially I'd like to hear a lad from Wales imitate Kandel's old Brooklyn accent

Me and Kandel would have a one on one session, smokey room, one way glass, a bit of good cop bad cop and I would soon have his style mimicked, remember I live in a section of Wales with no accent, it isn't hard to steal his voice, I might struggle with the whole "knowing something about physics" but I am sure I could struggle through

If you feel you should aim a little lower, there are other awards than the Noble price, just choose your subject - the Marie Curie prize, perhaps?

Do they have awards for pessimism or cynicism? Although I doubt I would win those Nobel prize for spam, any chance do you think?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 7:54 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
Me and Kandel would have a one on one session, smokey room, one way glass, a bit of good cop bad cop and I would soon have his style mimicked, remember I live in a section of Wales with no accent, it isn't hard to steal his voice, I might struggle with the whole "knowing something about physics" but I am sure I could struggle through

ROFL, I'd love to watch that in a one way mirror!

You do however not need to struggle with physics, since Kandel is a neuroscientist and got the prize in medicine and physiology

You will also have to add a tiny fraction of Austrian accent, and take up the habit of wearing enormous bowties

Do they have awards for pessimism or cynicism? Although I doubt I would win those Nobel prize for spam, any chance do you think?

I will have to check that out

Although I personally think your should aim for the Pulitzer prize.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 8:13 am

Originally posted by C Elegans
ROFL, I'd love to watch that in a one way mirror! You do however not need to struggle with physics, since Kandel is a neuroscientist and got the prize in medicine and physiology You will also have to add a tiny fraction of Austrian accent, and take up the habit of wearing enormous bowties

It might be a long session, remember to bring some refreshments

Neuroscience, not exactly my specialty either

I can only think of Austrain porn actors, is that the kind of stereotype I should be aiming for? Wacky Bowties are my specialty

I will have to check that out Although I personally think your should aim for the Pulitzer prize.

Pulitzer, I would have to be a hack to win that...perhaps I should aim at a lower level again, like the grammy's or something, it doesn't take much to get one of those these days

Osiris · Post by **Osiris** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 8:17 am

As an alternative there is always the IgNobel Prizes

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 9:24 am

Originally posted by C Elegans
Myastenia gravis

Interestingly, this is what my Mother has (she's just fine), but I didn't know anyone was studying it!

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Oct 10, 2002 8:34 am

@Gwally: There are lots of people studying MG actually, not only to find a cure but also to understand the way the nervous system och endocrinology interacts with the immune system. I'm happy to hear you mother is doing fine

Since I understand nothing about economics I will not comment on the Nobel prize in econimic sciences, but the laurates are Daniel Kahneman and Vernon L. Smith, who have obviously made it possible to study economics a lab science, including processes of decision making and market mechanisms.

You'd better read about it here.
http://www.nobel.se/economics/laureates/2002/press.html

And the literature prize goes to Hungarian author Imre Kertész "for writing that upholds the fragile experience of the individual against the barbaric arbitrariness of history".

Read more here:
http://www.nobel.se/literature/laureate ... press.html

I haven't read Kertész, but we have 3 Hungarian researchers at my lab, so I'll better ask them what they know about him. If any of you have read him, please post your comments. He is regarded as Hungary's finest author.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 4:59 am

Congraturations to Jimmy Carter for his Nobel Peace Prize.

It's long overdue, and he deserves it.

I think it's a slap in the face of Dubya Bush and his hardliner colleagues.

Kayless · Post by **Kayless** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 5:21 am

Originally posted by Minerva
Congraturations to Jimmy Carter for his Nobel Peace Prize. It's long overdue, and he deserves it.

I think it's a slap in the face of Dubya Bush and his hardliner colleagues.

No, it's a slap in my face!

First Kofi Annan and now Jimmy Carter! When will these outrages end? Is there no justice in this world? When does Kayless get his Nobel Peace Prize?

But I'll show them!

I'll show them all!!! Buwahahaha!!!

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 6:15 am

Originally posted by Minerva
Congraturations to Jimmy Carter for his Nobel Peace Prize. It's long overdue, and he deserves it.

I think it's a slap in the face of Dubya Bush and his hardliner colleagues.

I listened to what's-his-name's speech (sorry, I'm terrible with names) when he awarded it - I rather enjoyed the subtle put-down of dubya.

Osiris · Post by **Osiris** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 8:05 am

Originally posted by Kayless
No, it's a slap in my face! First Kofi Annan and now Jimmy Carter! When will these outrages end? Is there no justice in this world? When does Kayless get his Nobel Peace Prize? But I'll show them! I'll show them all!!! Buwahahaha!!!

Perhaps you need to put your talents to use. For example, settle the Iraq problem by organizing a "winner-takes-all" fight between George Dubyah and Saddam (in a cage) armed only with foam baseball bats...

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 8:15 am

Jimmy Carter may go down in history as one of the least effective US presidents (too out of touch with "realpolitik"), and possibly the most effective president laureate. His efforts on behalf of the cause of world peace, the elimination of hunger and disease are well-documented, including his "school" where promising young diplomats are trained in the intricacies of arbitration and mediation. This stands in stark contrast to the record of so many other ex-presidents who have spent their time writing fictional memoirs (Nixon), playing golf (Eisenhower), doing the lecture tour circuit (Reagan), controlling (Bush Sr) or blasting (Truman) state politics once more, or trying to become a talk show host (Clinton).

Kayless · Post by **Kayless** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 6:33 pm

Originally posted by Osiris
Perhaps you need to put your talents to use. For example, settle the Iraq problem by organizing a "winner-takes-all" fight between George Dubyah and Saddam (in a cage) armed only with foam baseball bats...

Great idea!

It'll make up for the Pope vs. Dali Lama fiasco I orchestrated a while back.

Silur · Post by **Silur** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 4:48 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
Do they have awards for pessimism or cynicism?

Yepp! The Nobel Peace price.

It's depressing that we need a price for such a thing.

VoodooDali · Post by **VoodooDali** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 12:37 pm

Originally posted by C Elegans
@Obsidian: Anyone can be nominated to the Peace prize, you can even send in you suggestion yourself, although a committee decides who gets it. (Last year there were some really crazy nominations.) This is contrary to the other prizes (medicine, physics, chemistry and literature) where nomination cannot be made, the expert committees decide which candidates are suitable.

SO - this means that even an EVIL VILE TYRANT like Weasel could nominate himself?

VoodooDali · Post by **VoodooDali** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 12:47 pm

Originally posted by fable
Jimmy Carter may go down in history as one of the least effective US presidents (too out of touch with "realpolitik"), and possibly the most effective president laureate. His efforts on behalf of the cause of world peace, the elimination of hunger and disease are well-documented, including his "school" where promising young diplomats are trained in the intricacies of arbitration and mediation. This stands in stark contrast to the record of so many other ex-presidents who have spent their time writing fictional memoirs (Nixon), playing golf (Eisenhower), doing the lecture tour circuit (Reagan), controlling (Bush Sr) or blasting (Truman) state politics once more, or trying to become a talk show host (Clinton).

@Fable - while I agree that Carter didn't make much headway during his presidency, I believe that he angered the corporations that control this country too much, and when they turned against him, it was all over for him. He was the only president who said that we should not support countries that engage in human rights abuses, and was trying to do good things in central america. Contrast this to our next (in what seems to be a long line of) idiot figurehead undereducated republican president, Reagan, who essentially waged a war with Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, and gave a heads up and support to Guatemala to engage in the most bloody etnnic cleansings against it's own citizens in the 20th c. The corporations who run everything down there (esp. Dole pineapple - but lets not forget the oil companies who want to rip up the Peten rainforest for its oil reserves) were all for Reagan's disgusting central american policies.

Anyway, I think Carter deserves it. He's done constant work for various causes, and it appears to me to be very selfless.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 1:11 pm

Originally posted by Sojourner
I listened to what's-his-name's speech (sorry, I'm terrible with names) when he awarded it - I rather enjoyed the subtle put-down of dubya.

Apparently its less-than-subtle. The nobel committee chairman Gunnar Berge said outright that it "should be interpreted as a criticism of the line that the current administration had taken."

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 1:30 pm

OK, not-so-subtle. But amusing, never-the-less.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sat Oct 12, 2002 5:51 pm

Originally posted by VoodooDali
SO - this means that even an EVIL VILE TYRANT like Weasel could nominate himself?

Yes he could..or maybe I need to say, he did.