A little wonder, every day

Fact 1628 — Nobel asked that candidates be judged regardless of nationality

AI-generated cover: sealed 19th-century document and globe on a historic Paris writing desk. Generated 19 October 2026. Prompt: “Photorealistic vertical 4:5 editorial cover about Alfred Nobel's will instructing that candidates be judged without regard to nationality. Show only a historic Paris writing desk with a sealed 19th-century document, fountain pen, and a brass globe; no person, no bust, no statue, no portrait, no legible text, no flags, no logos, no medals.”

documentary photograph of Alfred Nobel’s handwritten will, signed 27 November 1895. Document by Alfred Nobel; photograph by Prolineserver. [Wikimedia Commons file page](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfred_Nobels_will-November_25th,_1895.jpg); Public Domain Mark, with source-country and jurisdiction caveats recorded on the file page. Copied unchanged from the existing Watt fact 1617 package; no edits.

AI-generated illustration of fictional researchers from different backgrounds collaborating in a lab, symbolizing the international scientific community. Generated 19 October 2026. Prompt: “Photorealistic editorial image, vertical 4:5: a diverse small group of researchers from several countries collaborating around a laboratory table, sharing notebooks and discussing an experiment, warm natural light, respectful candid moment. Generic fictional scientists, illustrating international scientific community. No flags, no readable text, no logos, no award symbols.”

documentary portrait photograph of Alfred Nobel, circa 1883. Photographer unknown; Commons records the source as the Science Museum and the Swedish Inventors Museum and marks it public domain under anonymous-work rules in the EU and qualifying jurisdictions. [Wikimedia Commons file page](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AlfredNobel2.jpg). No edits.

AI-generated conceptual still life of blank cards, a sealed document, pen and globe in a historic Paris study; no historical text or people are shown. Generated 19 October 2026. Prompt: “Photorealistic editorial still life, vertical 4:5: a small brass globe beside several blank index cards, a sealed archival document and fountain pen on a 19th-century Paris writing desk. No people, no hands, no busts, no statues, no portraits, no legible writing, no flags, logos or medals.”

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AI-generated cover: sealed 19th-century document and globe on a historic Paris writing desk. Generated 19 October 2026. Prompt: “Photorealistic vertical 4:5 editorial cover about Alfred Nobel's will instructing that candidates be judged without regard to nationality. Show only a historic Paris writing desk with a sealed 19th-century document, fountain pen, and a brass globe; no person, no bust, no statue, no portrait, no legible text, no flags, no logos, no medals.”

Listen to fact0:00 / —

Alfred Nobel’s will says that nationality should not be considered when awarding the prizes: the most worthy candidate should receive the award, whether Scandinavian or not. This was Nobel’s direction for selecting laureates, not a promise that every country would receive the same number of prizes.