Around this time of year, the world of science is buzzing with hushed excitement. The Nobel Prizes are about to be revealed, and some scientists could be looking at their phones, hoping that this is finally their year. Alfred Nobel established these awards well over a hundred years ago, and they are still one of the most prestigious awards in science. But for every Nobel Prize winner, there are many researchers whose work has changed lives without ever getting that famous call from Stockholm.
It’s almost impossible to guess who will win the Nobel Prize. The shortlists and the committee’s discussions are kept secret for fifty years. However, it doesn’t seem right that only three people can split a single prize, as most of the time, today’s discoveries aren’t the work of just one individual. They come from big groups of people who work together across countries and fields, sometimes for decades. Still, certain inventions are so important that it’s hard not to picture their founders winning a Nobel Prize one day.
One such achievement is the creation of medications that help people lose weight and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes. Doctors have revolutionized how they treat these illnesses because of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. They act like a hormone called GLP-1, which helps control blood sugar and hunger. This medication not only helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels but also helps them lose a lot of weight. This finding was mostly made by scientists Svetlana Mojsov, Joel Habener, and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen. They won the 2024 Lasker Award for Clinical Research, which is frequently seen as a sign that they will win the Nobel Prize.
Quantum computing is another field that should be considered for the Nobel Prize. David DiVincenzo and Daniel Loss are two physicists who helped shape this discipline. They suggested in 1998 that quantum bits, or qubits, may be used as the basis for quantum computers. Since then, their study has been cited thousands of times, and their concepts are still guiding research all across the world. Even though they are still building functional quantum computers, their work established the groundwork for what could be one of the most profound technological revolutions in history.
Additionally, the story of cystic fibrosis is one of the most promising in medicine. Not too long ago, this hereditary illness meant that people would have trouble breathing for the rest of their lives and have a shortened lifespan. That future looks considerably different now, thanks to years of research. Michael Welsh, Jesús González, and Paul Negulescu were some of the people who helped make that transformation. Welsh found out how the faulty protein that causes the sickness works, and González and Negulescu made medications that correct the problem at its source. Patients have been able to live longer and healthier lives because of this therapy. The three won the Lasker Award in 2025, and many people think they could win a Nobel Prize next.
Another area that is changing how we think about health is the study of the human microbiome. We all have trillions of bacteria living in and on our bodies, especially in our guts. These little groups of cells affect everything from digestion and immunity to mood and brain function. For years, Dr. Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University has been studying how the microbiome affects nutrition and disease. His research showed that gut bacteria can have an effect on childhood undernutrition, which affects millions of kids throughout the world. Scientists are learning new ways to improve diets, treat illness, and promote health by studying these hidden ecosystems. This field is still rather new, but it has a lot of potential.
DNA sequencing has also changed how scientists work nowadays. It took more than ten years and billions of dollars to map a single human genome when the Human Genome Project started in 1990. It costs only a few hundred dollars and takes less than a day now. That change is mostly due to the work of researchers Shankar Balasubramanian, David Klenerman, and Pascal Mayer. Their work on next-generation sequencing technology made it feasible to look at millions of DNA fragments at once. This sped up study in medicine, biology, and forensics. This technique made personalized medicine possible, which means that doctors may create treatments that are specific to a person’s genetic composition.
Some people say that the Nobel system hasn’t properly evolved to the present era of science, even with all these amazing breakthroughs. A hundred years ago, many important discoveries were made by scientists working alone in their labs. Now, progress is frequently made by groups of hundreds or even thousands of people working together. For example, in the case of climate research, scientists, engineers, and data analysts from all across the world work together to help us understand global warming and how the weather works. Artificial intelligence and genomics are the same. It’s hard to give credit for these accomplishments to just three people.
As Nobel week gets closer, scientists and universities all across the world are getting more and more excited. Some scientists will soon get a call that will change their lives. But for a lot of other people, the labor goes on without awards or ceremonies. They will keep asking questions, trying out new things, and following their interests wherever they lead. That’s the real heart of science in the end. Getting awards is nice, but perhaps the real satisfaction is discovering something new, something that advances humanity forward.