In brief
The 2025 Nobel Prize winners experienced a mix of shock and joy as they learned about their honors in various ways. While some received calls before dawn, others were in remote locations or simply unaware of the momentous news until later. From Seattle families to scientists vacationing in Yellowstone, this year's announcements highlighted a blend of anticipation and disbelief among laureates.
BERLIN (World Voice News) — This year's Nobel Prize announcements took many winners by surprise, offering a unique glimpse into the moment they learned of their prestigious honors. While some were greeted with a knock before dawn, others were caught off guard by phone calls or even in vacationing bliss.
One of the notable aspects of this year's announcements was that several scientists in the United States were asleep when they received the news. Among them was Mary E. Brunkow, who found out she had won the Nobel Prize in Medicine through her husband after an early morning visit from an Associated Press photographer. Her husband's expression was one of disbelief as he broke the news to her. Don't be ridiculous, she initially responded, but the news was genuine.
Equally surprising was the experience of physicist John Martinis, who was woken by his wife just before 6 a.m. local time. She had initially attempted to delay the revelation, but ultimately, the achievement could not wait.
Meanwhile, Fred Ramsdell was on a backpacking trip in Yellowstone when he learned of his win. His wife, overwhelmed with notifications, informed him that he was among the laureates. No, I didn't, was his immediate response, only to be met with the confirmation of numerous text messages celebrating the win.
The reactions varied among winners, with some skeptically thinking calls from Sweden might be spam. This year’s announcements underlined both the honor of recognition and the unpredictable nature of these prestigious notifications, whether received at dawn or during a hike through nature.
The announcements showcased the incredible achievements of this year’s laureates in fields ranging from medicine to physics. As the world tuned in to celebrate their accomplishments, the moments that led to their calls were as diverse as the winners themselves.
