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Nobel prize in physics goes to inventors of blue light-emitting diodes Nobel prize in physics goes to inventors of blue light-emitting diodes
(about 1 hour later)
Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano at Nagoya University, Japan, and Shuji Nakamura of the University of California at Santa Barbara have won the Nobel prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes – an energy-efficient and environment-friendly light source.Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano at Nagoya University, Japan, and Shuji Nakamura of the University of California at Santa Barbara have won the Nobel prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes – an energy-efficient and environment-friendly light source.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the invention is just 20 years old, “but it has already contributed to create white light in an entirely new manner to the benefit of us all”. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the invention was just 20 years old “but it has already contributed to create white light in an entirely new manner to the benefit of us all”.
Akasaki, 85, is a professor at Meijo University and distinguished professor at Nagoya University. Amano, 54, is also a professor at Nagoya University, while the 60-year-old Nakamura is a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.Akasaki, 85, is a professor at Meijo University and distinguished professor at Nagoya University. Amano, 54, is also a professor at Nagoya University, while the 60-year-old Nakamura is a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The laureates triggered a transformation of lighting technology when they produced bright blue light from semiconductors in the 1990s, something scientist had struggled with for decades, the Nobel committee said. The laureates triggered a transformation of lighting technology when they produced bright blue light from semiconductors in the 1990s, something scientists had struggled with for decades, the Nobel committee said.
Using the blue light, LED lamps emitting white light could be created in a new way.Using the blue light, LED lamps emitting white light could be created in a new way.
“As about one fourth of world electricity consumption is used for lighting purposes, the LEDs contribute to saving the Earth’s resources,” the committee said. “As about one-fourth of world electricity consumption is used for lighting purposes, the LEDs contribute to saving the Earth’s resources,” the committee said.
Nakamura, who spoke to reporters in Stockholm over a crackling telephone line after being woken up by the phone call from the prize jury, said it was an amazing, and unbelievable feeling.Nakamura, who spoke to reporters in Stockholm over a crackling telephone line after being woken up by the phone call from the prize jury, said it was an amazing, and unbelievable feeling.
On Monday British-US scientist John O’Keefe and married couple May-Britt and Edvard Moser from Norway won the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for discovering the brain’s “inner GPS”. On Monday, British-US scientist John O’Keefe and married couple May-Britt and Edvard Moser from Norway won the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for discovering the brain’s “inner GPS”.
The Nobel prizes in chemistry, literature, peace and economics will be announced over the next week.The Nobel prizes in chemistry, literature, peace and economics will be announced over the next week.
Worth 8m kronor ($1.1m or £700.000) each, the Nobel prizes are always handed out on 10 December, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. Besides the prize money, each laureate receives a diploma and a gold medal.Worth 8m kronor ($1.1m or £700.000) each, the Nobel prizes are always handed out on 10 December, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. Besides the prize money, each laureate receives a diploma and a gold medal.
Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, provided few directions for how to select winners, except that the prize committees should reward those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind”.Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, provided few directions for how to select winners, except that the prize committees should reward those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind”.