Nobel Prize Money Comes from Dynamite Sales – Alfred Nobel and The Discovery of Dynamite
Nitroglycerin is so unstable that just knocking a beaker of it casually can blow it up. There was a need for controlled explosions in tunnel construction and other applications, but it could also be a terrible tool for war.
Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist and engineer, is best known for inventing dynamite, a significant advancement in explosives. His journey to this discovery was marked by extensive experimentation and numerous trials writ large with explosions. Initially, Nobel explored various chemical compounds, but many of his attempts resulted in unstable and dangerous materials.
After countless experiments, he discovered that by stabilizing nitroglycerin with an absorbent substance, he could create a safer and more manageable explosive.
His recipe? Sawdust. Dynamite = nitroglycerin + sawdust. Essentially, it's more complicated, that's why Nobel routinely blew up his shed. He named the new product dynamite, which comes from the Greek word dynamis, meaning "power".
However, Nobel was acutely aware of the potential destructiveness of his invention. To address the consequences of his work and to leave a positive legacy, he established the Nobel Prizes. He allocated a portion of his fortune, specifically 10% of the profits from global dynamite sales, to fund these prestigious awards. The Nobel Prizes recognize outstanding contributions in various fields, including physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. No more than three individuals may share a prize.
The Nobel Prize monetary award is about US$1,035,000. The medal (image below from Wikipedia) shows Nobel in profile with "NAT. MDCCCXXXIII-OB. MDCCCXCVI" which is his year of birth, 1833 (NAT) and year of death, 1896 (OB).
Funny fact: Einstein only received one Nobel Prize and it wasn't for his Theories of Relativity, it was for 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics, "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". Which is most widely known as the way electronic doors "sense" when you are approaching!
