I just did some Googling and apparently, that is a more recent development (at least for physics, medicine and chemistry). Science Nobel laureates used to be young, or at least much younger, but now they are skewing much older. This article discusses it: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37578899
These days the committee prefers to wait until a body of work has made an impact across society. This typically takes a few decades. I actually prefer this style, although it is too often the case that the authors have since died. Would be good to see them allow posthumous awards within reason.
I just did some Googling and apparently, that is a more recent development (at least for physics, medicine and chemistry). Science Nobel laureates used to be young, or at least much younger, but now they are skewing much older. This article discusses it: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37578899
These days the committee prefers to wait until a body of work has made an impact across society. This typically takes a few decades. I actually prefer this style, although it is too often the case that the authors have since died. Would be good to see them allow posthumous awards within reason.
True! My gf is a chemist and said that there used to be that saying that if you hadn’t had your Nobel by 35 then you failed :S