Re:Nobel Prizes for Mathematics
on
Nobel Prizes
·
· Score: 1
There are several active rumors going around why there is no Nobel prize for mathematics. None of which seems to be true. The most popular rumor is that Nobel disliked the Swedish mathematician Mittag-Leffler (some say because of an extramarital affair, but there seems to be _no_ solid support for this) and that Nobel feared that Mittag-Leffler might be awarded the prize.
However, the most likely explanation is that Nobel, an engineer at heart, did not realize the importance of mathematics. The rationale for the peace prize may have been a guilty conscience (for inventing dynamite and nitroglycerine) and the literature prize comes from his and his family's interest in poetry and drama.
Slashdot Mirror
There are several active rumors going around why there is no Nobel prize for mathematics. None of which seems to be true. The most popular rumor is that Nobel disliked the Swedish mathematician Mittag-Leffler (some say because of an extramarital affair, but there seems to be _no_ solid support for this) and that Nobel feared that Mittag-Leffler might be awarded the prize. However, the most likely explanation is that Nobel, an engineer at heart, did not realize the importance of mathematics. The rationale for the peace prize may have been a guilty conscience (for inventing dynamite and nitroglycerine) and the literature prize comes from his and his family's interest in poetry and drama.