BERLIN (AP) — The Nobel Prize winners of 2025 received life-changing news through a range of unexpected scenarios. While some were addressed with a sudden knock at their doors before dawn, others found out through long-awaited phone calls or even during a hike in nature, showcasing the diversity of this year's experiences.
Mary E. Brunkow’s morning took an abrupt but delightful turn when Associated Press photographer Lindsey Wasson knocked on her door in Seattle. Initially startled, Brunkow insisted her husband couldn’t possibly be right when he told her of her Nobel win. Such disbelief is common among recipients, as many of them wrestle with the enormity of the recognition.
Contrastingly, John Martinis woke up to a surprise when his wife gently prodded him just before 6 a.m. He had been unaware that Nobel Prize announcements were scheduled for that week. Upon discovering he had won, he experienced a mixture of surprise and excitement, demonstrating the varying reactions among laureates.
In a more unconventional setting, Fred Ramsdell was blissfully backpacking through Yellowstone National Park when his wife, upon receiving text notifications about his win, had to convince him that he indeed had received the Nobel Prize. This incident highlights how some winners were completely disconnected from the buzz of awards season.
Many recipients also expressed a sense of skepticism when receiving initial calls confirming their achievements. Winners like Susumu Kitagawa mistook the Nobel Committee’s calls as telemarketing attempts, an unexpected mix of humor in a moment typically rich with gravitas.
The Nobel Prizes, revered globally as the culmination of academic achievement, continue to create narratives of surprise, joy, and humor amid life-altering news. We await the literature prize announcements, wondering who will next find themselves on the receiving end of such a prestigious acknowledgment.
