Nobel Prize, the magic call and where they were

Ever wondered how the Nobel laureates are informed about their achievements. Well, it is not through telegrams or emails but through phone calls from the institution minutes before the award are announced to the world. Now these calls can come up in the most unexpected place at the most unexpected time taking the recipients by surprise… eh! shock maybe!! [caption id=“attachment_98248” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. Reuters”] [/caption] Here are a few of the reactions as we found on Nobelprize.org : Richard Ernst (On a flight) Nobel Prize in Chemistry — 1991 Richard Ernst was on a flight from Moscow when he was informed by the captain that he won the Nobel Prize. Reinhard Selten (Busy shopping) Nobel Prize in Economics — 1994 Reinhard Selten was with his wife shopping and the call went unanswered. Gunter Grass (Repairing a bad tooth) Nobel Prize in Literature — 1999 Günter Grass was due at the dentist when he received the call from Stockholm. Barry Marshall (Enjoying my beer) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 2005 “Well, Robin and I often have a beer down by the riverside at this time of year.” Barry Marshall got the news in an Australian pub. Amartya Sen (Oh my God! What happened?) Nobel Prize in Economics — 1998 Amartya Sen heard the phone ringing at 5 a.m. and thought something bad had happened. César Milstein (Busy discussing) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 1984 César Milstein was in a meeting when the call came through. Ivan Bunin (At a country house) Nobel Prize in Literature — 1933 Ivan Bunin got the call from Stockholm in “a poor country house in an old Provencal town.” James M. Buchanan  (Planning a good time with wife) Nobel Prize in Economics — 1986 James M. Buchanan was planning a time together with his wife at their country place, when the call from Stockholm came. Louis J. Ignarro (Are you serious?) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 1998 Louis J. Ignarro was too surprised when he got the call and wondered if he had heard correctly! William F. Sharpe (What a joke!) Nobel Prize in Economics — 1990 William F. Sharpe thought it the call was a prank. James A. Mirrlees (Give me proof) Nobel Prize in Economics — 1996 James A. Mirrlees asked politely for proof when he received the call. Roy J. Glauber (Confused) Nobel Prize in Physics — 2005 “Things are going to get even more confused before they get better,” Roy J. Glauber commented in a telephone interview. He received the call at 5:36am. Elfriede Jelinek (I have a Black Hole) Nobel Prize in Literature — 2004 Elfriede Jelinek thought she had a Black Hole when the call came from Stockholm.