Taha Usha

The Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world. It acknowledges achievements that have had a great, positive impact on humanity in various fields. Created through the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, the prize is awarded annually in six categories: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economic sciences, and the Nobel Peace Prize. There can be up to three winners in each category. This limit is designed to ensure that specific people are getting recognition and credit rather than being shadowed by large groups. However, the limit is becoming more controversial. This is because nowadays research projects can include hundreds of scientists, yet only three can receive the Nobel Prize as recognition.

There have been ten CCNY alumni who have been winners in multiple categories of the prize.

• Arthur Kornberg: Medicine (1959)

Kornberg discovered how DNA is copied, also known as DNA replication. He discovered DNA polymerase which is an enzyme that builds new DNA strands during replication. This paved the way for modern genetics, biotechnology, and DNA-based medicine. Arthur Kornberg is unique in that he won the prize on his own and did not share it with another scientist. 

• Robert Hofstadter: Physics (1961)

Hofstadter studied the structure of protons and neutrons by utilizing electron scattering experiments to measure their size and structure. His contributions have helped scientists understand internal particle structures and what atoms are made of. 

• Julius Axelrod: Medicine (1970)

While working with two other scientists to figure out how nerve cells communicate through neurotransmitters, Axelrod discovered neurotransmitter reuptake. This is the explanation for how neurotransmitters are called back or stopped. Axelrod discovered that transmitters such as norepinephrine don’t disappear after being fired to signal but are reabsorbed by the neuron. He also discovered specific enzymes that chemically change norepinephrine so that it can no longer release signals. Essentially, he discovered the recycling and enzymatic breakdown of neurotransmitters. This paved the way for many modern medicines that target things such as depression and anxiety. Some examples of this are antidepressants, SSRIs, and SNRIs, which block the reuptake of serotonin. This proved that brain cells recycle chemicals used for signaling. 

• Kenneth Arrow: Economics (1972)

Arrow proved the Arrows’ Impossibility Theorem. The theorem presents a set of conditions that a voting body must fulfill to properly ensure that it is fair. It states that a majority rule voting body will always, in some way, violate one of these conditions, meaning that no voting system can perfectly represent everyone’s opinions. This theorem has influenced many aspects of politics, economics, and philosophy. 

• Arno Penzias: Physics (1978)

Penzias discovered cosmic background microwave radiation which is left over heat from the Big Bang. This story is interesting because it was an accidental discovery. While working with a partner and trying to remove noise from the horn antenna they were working with (often used in radio astronomy) they discovered a constant hum. Horn antennas are very directional meaning they pinpoint a location and take only specific signals, yet no matter what this hum was always present. This showed that the hum was coming from all parts of the sky. This proved there was radiation that filled the universe, which provided strong evidence for the Big Bang theory.

• Herbert A. Hauptman: Chemistry (1985)

Hauptman developed methods for finding exact 3D molecular structures of molecules. His methods allowed for the use of math to determine crystal structure from X-ray diffraction patterns. This is important for accurately finding molecular structures, which is very important for drug design and research. 

• Jerome Karle: Chemistry (1985)

Karle won alongside Herbert A. Hauptman, sharing the chemistry Nobel Prize in 1985. He also worked with X-ray crystallography, which led to advances that allowed for retrieval of the precise location of atoms within complex molecules. This is important for chemistry research and drug design as well. 

• Leon M. Lederman: Physics (1988)

Lederman proved the existence of multiple types of neutrinos, which are the building blocks of the universe. This expanded our understanding of particle physics by showing how each charged particle has its own type of neutrino. 

• Robert J. Aumann: Economics (2005)

Aumann studied game theory and developed the repeated game theory which explained how cooperation and conflict evolve over time. This explores how people make decisions when their outcome depends on others’ actions or reactions. He says in this theory that when people are likely to meet again, cooperation is more likely. This idea is very important and is still seen today in politics, business, and much more.

• John O’Keefe: Medicine (2014) 

O’Keefe discovered place cells in the brain’s hippocampus, which showed how the brain formed mental maps. Put simply, place cells “activate” when you are in a specific location. Each location has designated place cells. Through the different neurons firing as you enter different spaces, place cells help us identify where we are and create internal maps. This is important for improving understanding of diseases like Alzheimer’s. This is because the hippocampus is one of the first regions to shrink and lose functionality. The idea of place cells explains why Alzheimer’s Disease leads to people feeling lost, anxious, and confused, even in their own homes. Knowing this also allows for early diagnosis by monitoring the effectiveness of someone’s place cells. It also shows what parts of the brain need to be targeted and protected when trying to find treatments. 

For students of HSMSE, these achievements and people are particularly relevant because of our own presence on the CCNY campus. The Nobel Prize recognizes not only excellence but also the importance of innovation and cooperation in building a better society. Looking at the CCNY alumni who have won the award, this is clearly seen through them. Through their success, it grows apparent that by being a part of HSMSE, we are situated in a space that pursues and expands on ideas recognized on a Nobel Prize level. This should serve as inspiration for what we ourselves can achieve knowing that it is happening around us.