In October, the streets of Stockholm are filled with festive spirit.

At this time, this city on the tip of the Baltic Sea attracts attention from all over the world because of the Nobel Prize list.

Although the award is a matter for the members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the vast majority of Stockholm citizens are proud of this moment.

Interestingly, "they" weren't always like that.

In that people. Patriarch. In the era when righteousness swept Europe, many Swedes publicly complained and even criticized that a Swedish tycoon or scholar (Nobel) did not donate his inheritance to the country, nor did he give Scandinavians any priority to win awards, leaving behind not benefits, but countless troubles.

Even Hans Foscher, then president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, complained that Nobel should donate money directly to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, rather than let them do thankless awards, and refused to participate in the meeting to review the details of the study.

Fortunately, thanks to the tireless efforts of Nobel's most trusted assistant, Lonner Sauhrmann, the then King of Sweden finally announced the entry into force of the will, ending the controversy surrounding 31 million crowns.

It turns out that standing at the height of history, the vast majority of people are short-sighted. In those days when there was no internet, few people had the opportunity to see the world beyond the Baltics.

But looking back now, even if you look around the world, it's hard to find a better investment than that 31 million crowns.

No other city has ever been so honored for an award. Never before has a Swede, not even the King or Prime Minister of Sweden, left such a large and inexhaustible legacy to his country or nation.

Of course, there are certainly troubles that come with it.

Especially for the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which has watched over this will for more than a century.

As we get closer to the 4th of October, the atmosphere in the ivory tower is getting more and more tense than the liveliness of Stockholm.

It stands to reason that the list of Nobel Prizes should have been prepared three days in advance.

This time, however, the members of the chemistry prize jury did not reach a consensus.

Although there have been several times in history when the Nobel Committee has not been able to reach a consensus and the announcement has been postponed to mid-October, there is no reason why this will happen in the selection of the Nobel Prize.

At the urging of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jury convened again.

The list of the jury for the Chemistry Prize has not changed compared to the previous two years, except for Ms. Snogerup Linther. Linse) stepped down from the chairmanship of the committee, and the 15-year commissioner Claes Gustafson (Claes Gustafsen) stepped down from the chairmanship. Gustafasson) was promoted to chairman.

As for the other three academicians, Peter Brzezinski, professor of biochemistry at Stockholm University, is Peter Brzezinski. Brzezinski), Professor of Organic Chemistry at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Olof Lamström. Ramstrom), and Johan Aquist, a leading figure in molecular biology and computational chemistry, Aqvist).

At the meeting, Ms. Linser, who was over half a hundred years old, glanced sharply at several colleagues present and said in a strong tone.

"We're all left, and the Royal Academy wants us to make a decision as soon as possible, at least before the 4th."

In fact, they should have made a decision a month ago.

The Chairman, Professor Klaas, nodded.

"As Academician Lincer said, we have to make a decision, this will be the last meeting, and I hope that if you have any opinions, please do not keep them in your heart."

The other three members looked at each other and nodded.

This will be the last time they will discuss this issue.

It will also be the last judging meeting of the year......

……

Objectively speaking, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry judges' evaluation ideas are really fascinating, 17 years of cryo-EM is good to say, but 16 years of molecular machines are completely a novel concept, although the results are good enough, but I don't know how long it will be from practicality.

For example, the most incomprehensible lithium battery, when predicting the Nobel Prize every year, everyone will piggyback on the name of the lithium bull Goodnave, that is, the legendary "Mr. Good Enough", but after so long, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences seems to have forgotten his name.

In addition to theoretical models of electrochemical interface structures, the research of Professor Franz-Ulrich Hartle of the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry and Arthur Horrich, Professor of Genetics at Yale University, on the folding of intracellular proteins and its effects, is also a worthy award.

Prior to this, these two big bulls have already won the Lasker Prize, which is the vane of the Nobel Prize. Almost 50 percent of the winners of this award have gone on to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Chemistry.

In addition, there are optogenetics, which have been gaining momentum recently, as well as motor proteins, and so on.

It turns out that in the field of biology, it is indeed easier for chemists to make beautiful results.

At first glance, the big pit of creatures seems quite attractive.

Of course, the premise is that if the goal is to win the Nobel Prize......

After an initial exchange of views, the meeting began to continue discussions on the final nominations.

Without any surprise, the focus of controversy is still on the "theoretical model of the electrochemical interface structure".

And the atmosphere of controversy is becoming more and more intense......

Orlov: "This year we should also think about the real results of chemistry, and if Mr. Nobel knew that we had turned his favorite chemistry prize into a 'biology prize', I am sure he would not be happy in heaven." ”

Peter emphasized in a fierce tone: "But he is only 24 years old!" Even younger than Laurence Bragg! Can't we wait until he's past his 25th birthday to consider his name? ”

Orloff asked rhetorically: "But apart from him, are there any other outstanding achievements in the field of theoretical chemistry?" ”

Peter was slightly stunned, frowned and thought for a moment, then said in a hesitant tone: "The study of molecular dynamics? Professor Robert Carr of Princeton also does an excellent job in this field. ”

Orlov shook his head: "I admit that his work is indeed excellent, but it is far from being outstanding enough. ”

Peter complained, "Then give the fold of the protein in the cell!" Why do we have to consider theoretical chemistry? ”

Miss Lindser nodded, "I agree with Peter. ”

In the 15th year, it was under her advocacy that the Nobel Prize was awarded to DNA repair.

Now, as she did then, she believes that the award should be given to biochemistry.

Orloff asked rhetorically: "If we are not limited to the direction of research, then why do we have to be limited to the age of the winners?" Nobel did not say in his will that he would have to give his estate to an old man in his fifties. ”

John, who had never spoken, suddenly interjected at this time: "I think what Academician Orloff said is reasonable, and the electrochemical interface structure is not only an achievement in the field of electrochemistry and theoretical chemistry, but also a pioneering contribution to the research in the field of computational chemistry. ”

He studied computational chemistry, and no one here knows better than him how good that theoretical model is.

However, it is here that the Nobel Prize selection is most divided.

With the development of science, the boundaries between disciplines are becoming more and more blurred, but the distance between directions is becoming more and more distant. It is still difficult for scholars outside the field to understand the research results in different directions, let alone horizontal comparison.

There seems to be a "scuffle" at the conference table.

Looking at Ollov and Peter, who were arguing with reason, Academician Klaas, the chairman of the committee, who had not spoken much, pondered for a moment, clapped his hands, and interrupted the quarrel at the conference table.

"All right, gentlemen...... And ma'am, there is no point in continuing the argument, so let's use the most people. Lord, the fairest, and most traditional way, make the final decision. ”

Several people exchanged glances.

Although there was no unification, there was no opinion on what Academician Klaas said.

When there is no unanimity, there is no better way to solve the problem than by voting.

Seeing that the other committee members did not object, Academician Klaas glanced at the assistant next to him.

Reading what he meant, the assistant stepped forward and placed an A4 sheet of paper on everyone's desk.

Picking up the pen and writing a word on the paper, Ms. Linther raised her eyebrows and looked at Klaas, "You've been ready for a long time?" ”

"I have a hunch that this will turn out in the end," Academician Klaas smiled, folded his piece of paper, and gently placed it in the middle of the table, "Anyway, we rarely agree on opinions, do we?" ”