Bawendi, Brus, and Ekimov Win Nobel Prize Chemistry Amid Controversy

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

STOCKHOLM (Worthy News) – Three scientists won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their work on quantum dots that could illuminate tumors, but their names were leaked before the decision.

Moungi Bawendi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Louise Brus of Colombia University, and Alexei Ekimov of Nanocrystals Technology Inc. were honored by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.

Referring to the quantum dots, the Academy noticed that “These tiny particles have unique properties and now spread their light from television screens and LED lamps. They catalyze chemical reactions, and their clear light can illuminate tumor tissue for a surgeon.”

Yet the ceremony was overshadowed by revelations that at least two Swedish news outlets managed to report the names and achievements of the laureates hours before the official announcement.

The two newspapers, Aftonbladet and Dagens Nyheter said they had received an emailed news release containing the information directly from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the prize. Hans Ellegren, the academy’s secretary general, described the early transmission of the release as “completely unexpected” and “very unfortunate.”

“We don’t know what happened,” he told The New York Times newspaper, adding that the academy was investigating.

Compounding the confusion, the academy said it had not formally met and signed off on choosing laureates when the Swedish outlets received the news release.

FINALIZING REPORT

Heiner Linke, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, reportedly said academy members had gathered to finalize the award at 9:30 a.m. local time, about two hours after the outlets received the expected news.

But when the names were officially announced just before noon, they matched. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($990,000).

Nobel laureates’ names have slipped out prematurely before. In 2019, the poet Katarina Frostenson, a member of the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize in Literature, left after an investigation found that her husband had repeatedly leaked the winners’ names.

Yet, though his name was already leaked, Dr. Bawendi told reporters after their names were announced that he had been “very surprised.”

Judy Giordan, president of the American Chemical Society, said she was thrilled at the selection of the winners.

“What we care about a lot in chemistry is being able to make and tailor novel structures and architectures to solve problems that help people and the planet,” Giordan added.

Today, quantum dots are commonly used in electronic displays and biomedical imaging. However, experts say the fluorescent quality of the particles allows researchers to track how drugs are delivered within the human body and to study the precise location and growth of a tumor, for example.

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