2020, the Nobel Prize is coming!
Our reporter Fang Linlin He Yi Hou Meng
What are the characteristics of the Nobel Prize?
The first is originality, the so-called "Door Opener"; second, it has a wide and continuous influence, which has profoundly changed the academic system and people's production and life.
In October, the Nobel Prize (hereinafter referred to as the Nobel Prize) is approaching.
It has been nearly a hundred years since it was first issued in 1901.
The new crown pneumonia has not cleared, who will win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?
What exactly is the Nobel Prize rewarding, and is it really less and less subversive and original?
How to evaluate the low-cited "cold beauty" results?
How to raise Nobel Prize scientific questions?
How can China seize the highest point of international scientific development?
Under the reward halo and heat, calm thinking is needed.
Calling "the pioneer"!
Against the background of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, will immunological results become the focus again?
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has not yet left. Global scientific researchers have raced against the new crown virus and have produced tens of thousands of scientific research results. There is only one goal: to understand, recognize and end the raging of the new crown virus.
There is a voice in the community that the immunological results related to the mechanism of the new coronavirus infection may be favored.
In 1901, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to serum therapy for the treatment of diphtheria infectious disease; in 1951, South African medical scientist Thiele won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the first to develop a mosquito-borne virus yellow fever vaccine.
Among the 2020 "Citation Laureates" known as the "Nobel Prize Weathervane" announced on September 23, there is a research result that is also related to immunology.
Pamela J. Bjorkman, Professor of Biology and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, and Jack L. Strominger, Higgins Research Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Harvard University, were awarded the prize for "determining the structure of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein" And function is a milestone discovery in molecular immunology, which is helpful to the development of drugs and vaccines."
"I think the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will continue to favor immunology." Clarivate Analytics Asia Pacific analyst Dr. Lin Wang said.
However, Guo Tiecheng, deputy director of the China Institute of Science and Technology Information, believes: "Which field results can be selected for the Nobel Prize, whether it can become a hot spot, does not depend on which field is popular, but depends on the purpose of the Nobel Prize."
He introduced that Nobel said in his will: "The interest generated by the fund will be awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to mankind every year." What is the mark of Nobel Prize achievements for making outstanding contributions to mankind?
The first is originality, the pioneer, the so-called "Door Opener"; the second is the extensive and continuous influence that profoundly changes the academic system and people's production and life.
Both of these points need a long time to verify.
Generally speaking, it takes more than 20 years, or even longer, to win the Nobel Prize.
"Therefore, I think the new crown virus research may have major results, and it is not ruled out that the new crown virus has an impact on the nominee's subconsciousness, but after all, the time is too short to test the groundbreaking and influence of the relevant results. The recent results of the new crown virus research The possibility of winning is unlikely." Guo Tiecheng said.
Although human beings have made continuous achievements in the process of fighting infectious diseases and the modern medical system is relatively complete, they still feel insufficient when facing a new type of deadly virus. "This shows that immunological research still has a long way to go. It also provides opportunities for the emergence of major achievements." Guo Tiecheng said.
He believes that the results of Academician Zhang Boli used the theories and methods of fusion of Chinese and Western medicine to reveal the characteristics and laws of the new coronavirus for the first time. It is pioneering and practical, with good clinical effects, and the results of Chinese traditional medicine can be expected in the future.
Encourage indomitable spirit!
But why do you feel that there are fewer and fewer subversive theoretical results?
Professor Wang Bo, vice president of Beijing Institute of Technology, believes that the natural science awards encourage major original achievements that are "indomitable".
What is "indomitable"?
"This achievement either broadens the boundaries of human perception of the world; or has an important impact on human economic and social activities, provides impetus for human civilization to move forward, and brings benefits to mankind’s pursuit of a better life. It is best to have both It."
What kind of Nobel spirit does it show to reward the indomitable Nobel Prize scientific achievements?
Guo Tiecheng believes that the spirit of the Nobel Prize has three aspects.
"The first is the scientific spirit, that is, logical rationality, observation and experimentation, questioning falsification, and free exploration of the mysteries of nature and the universe. The second is the engineering spirit, which translates scientific discoveries and inventions into new products or services, which are widely used in production and life. Most of the Nobel Prize achievements have distinct Pasteur quadrant attributes, that is, the basic research attributes are strong, and the practicality is also strong. The third is the spirit of service, loyalty to ideals, dedication to science, benefiting mankind, selfless dedication, relieving human suffering, and enhancing mankind Well-being, this is particularly evident in physiology or medical awards."
There is a view that the Nobel Prize in recent years has been awarded more and more for the verification of subversive theories, the iteration of key technologies, and even the upgrading of observational experimental tools, while the results of the subversive theories put forward by Einstein have been less and less. Up.
In Guo Tiecheng's view, this may be a normal cycle of scientific development.
At this stage, the scientific system formed in the industrial age is undergoing major changes, and the scientific paradigm is very different from the beginning of the Nobel Prize.
He explained that first, a large number of new disciplines have emerged, which has changed the disciplinary system since the industrial revolution, raised new questions for scientific research, and provided new research methods; second, the convergence of disciplines has become common, and the general basis for the integration of disciplines has been formed. , "Medici" superimposed resonance has become a trend of discipline innovation; the third is the integration of scientific research, that is, basic research, applied research and development research not only have a linear relationship, but also integrate and face the application market.
In recent years, many Nobel Prize achievements have been located at the intersection of multiple disciplines, reflecting the current trend of scientific development.
Wang Bo agrees with Guo Tiecheng's philosophy.
"From the perspective of scientific research volume and scientific research methods, modern science has to stand on the shoulders of giants. In many cases, breakthroughs require teamwork. Major modern scientific achievements require shining stars. In this sense, we are still masters. The era of mass emergence." Wang Bo said.
Pay attention to "cold beauty"!
Highly cited papers are very important, and it is equally important for original results to be "cited" by life
Einstein said: "Ask a problem is often more important than solve a problem."
What is the first way to present hypotheses, conjectures, new theories, new fields, and new paths to the scientific community?
The publication of academic papers with major original achievements is a recognized method of knowledge and information exchange in the global academic community.
Comparing the influence of major original papers and referring to the annual professional discipline awards list is an effective way to "take the pulse" of Nobel Prize achievements.
The "Citation Laureate Award", which has been continuously released in the past 20 years, takes the frequency of research papers cited by global peers and citation influence as the main criteria, combined with certain qualitative indicators and expert judgments to form a list.
So far, 54 of the more than 300 scientists on the list have won the Nobel Prize.
Guo Tiecheng believes that citation frequency evaluation is more effective for measuring improvement innovation or incremental innovation, but the effect of measuring original innovation is limited.
"At the beginning of innovation, the truth is always in the hands of a few people. The groundbreaking results are advanced, unheard of, unseen by people, and even beyond the existing knowledge framework of mankind, so they may be low cited. Einstein's Theory of Relativity When it was put forward, few people in the world could understand it. In these low-cited'cold-point papers', there may be'cold beauties' that are astonishing. How to discover and evaluate'cold beauties' is very worthwhile Research topics."
"The real influence should not only be cited frequently by academic papers, but also by patents, especially by human production and life. Tu Youyou's paper is not long, but Artemisia annua After being developed, countless people have been saved." Guo Tiecheng said.
The top awards of different professional disciplines, such as the Lasker Prize, Wolf Prize, etc., have different focus and focus, but they all echo the Nobel Prize from a certain dimension.
Wang Bo said: “The high coincidence rate between the awards of various professional disciplines and the Nobel Prize shows that the vision and aspirations of peer review are convergent. Therefore, our scientific researchers must sit on a cold bench and have a good meal without fear of late.”
Look at the Nobel Prize rationally!
Think of it as applause and applause to scientific researchers
How should we treat the Nobel Prize rationally?
Some commentators believe that the overall mentality of the Chinese people for the Nobel Prize has changed from looking up from the unattainable fear to the self-sufficiency of "a matter of course".
Wang Bo’s point of view is also very clear: “Major scientific awards, including the Nobel Prize, should be regarded as the applause and applause of the entire human society to scientific research workers! Just like the Olympic Games, winning gold medals is only one aspect, and more important. It is to improve the physical fitness of the whole people; to value the Nobel Prize may not necessarily win the Nobel Prize immediately. The important thing is to improve the scientific literacy of the whole people through this scientific feast. By spreading the spirit of the Nobel Prize, we encourage the next generation to love science and regard being a scientist as their dream of life. This is the essence of the Nobel Prize spirit."
In this way, we pay attention to the Nobel Prize, how should the most important focus and end point be positioned?
"The popular science effect of the Nobel Prize is worth learning." Guo Tiecheng explained that the whole process of the Nobel Prize has an important scientific popularization function. It conveys the scientific spirit and scientific value in a silent way.
"Moreover, this kind of science popularization is not traditional'literacy science popularization', but'citizen science', which allows citizens of all countries to understand and understand science and encourage citizens to participate in scientific research and scientific decision-making. The annual Nobel Prize, from nomination to award, The whole world is feeling the power of science in excitement."
Guo Tiecheng further said that the mechanism of the Nobel Prize is particularly worth learning.
For example, the system of social financing to establish reward funds, the mechanism of separating fund management and reward evaluation, the small data nomination mechanism, the peer evaluation review system, and the world-class quality standards are all the most advanced.
Of course, the Nobel Prize has also made mistakes, but the mistakes are accidental.
Fortunately, China currently vigorously advocates the development of social power evaluation and supports social funds to establish incentive funds and R&D funds.
In recent years, the more famous of these awards are the "Future Science Award" and "Science Exploration Award", which have a good influence in the scientific research community.
Setting high bonuses does not mean that the expected results will be achieved.
The selection mechanism for scientific awards should give full play to the role of the scientific community to ensure authority and fairness. If the selection rules are set unreasonably, it will have a negative impact.
"Promoting high-quality social evaluation is the direction that all walks of life in China need to work together in the future. I believe that slowly exploring will nurture high-quality awards that can stimulate the emergence of innovative talents."
Put prosperity and science on the strategic agenda!
Planting a fertile ground for innovation, waiting for the flowers to bloom
How to thicken the fertile ground for innovation?
When will the results of the Nobel Prize come?
Fang Hanting, vice president of Science and Technology Daily, gave a set of relevant data on science and technology investment: an economy’s total investment in scientific research accounts for about 0.7% of GDP, and scientific research can be generally developed; accounting for 1.5%, government and market investment will With half of each, government investment will tilt toward basic research; at 2.1%, government investment will tilt toward more cutting-edge originality, and the market favors technology applications.
China's scientific research investment has now exceeded 2.1%.
He judged, "In this sense, the era of large-scale emergence of major achievements in frontier basic science is coming."
Guo Tiecheng analyzed this proposition from the strategic goal of prospering science and the size of our scientific researchers: "The task of prospering science must be put on the strategic agenda. To enter the forefront of an innovative country by 2035, science needs to provide the original driving force, otherwise innovation There is no stamina for development. By the 100th anniversary of the founding of New China, the outstanding sign of building a socialist modern science and technology power is to have strong science. By then, China will be able to raise many scientific questions, discover many scientific laws, and put forward many scientific theories. The treasure house of human knowledge contributes to the wisdom of the Chinese nation. I believe that mathematics training is the underlying logic of human thinking, and mathematics should be placed in an important position in the cultivation of national talents."
Guo Tiecheng said that China has reached the incubation period of major scientific achievements. “At present, my country has the world’s largest and youngest R&D personnel, the world’s largest and most comprehensive manufacturing industry, and the economic and social needs for comprehensive and coordinated development. The vigorous, scientific research policy environment is more perfect, which provides good seeds and high-quality soil for the production of major achievements."
For example, the Basic Science Center project of the Natural Science Foundation of China is a relatively long-term and stable support for scientific research personnel to concentrate on research and exploration, committed to scientific breakthroughs, and produce a batch of internationally leading original results to seize the highest point of international scientific development. Several academic highlands with important international influence.
Wang Bo judged: “Scientific and technological innovation and major scientific discoveries are in a spiral relationship with economic and social development. Once policies, talents, investment, environment and other factors are available, the era of shining stars for Chinese scientists will come. To give scientific research workers time, let them calm down and water carefully, do well in the moment, and wait for the flowers to bloom!"
Ten Nobel Prize Achievements Affecting Human Life
1 Artemisinin "saves 200 million people" every year
2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
One of the winners: Tu Youyou
In 1972, inspired by the Chinese classic "Elbow Reserve Emergency Recipe", Tu Youyou successfully extracted artemisinin for the treatment of falciparum malaria and was hailed as a major discovery of "saving 200 million people".
Artemisinin has been widely used in malaria-affected areas.
In Africa alone, this means that more than 100,000 people are saved every year.
2 The first X-ray photo in history took a hand
1901 Nobel Prize in Physics
Winner: William Conrad Roentgen
On November 8, 1895, the German physicist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen discovered X-rays during an experiment at home. He took the first X-ray film in human history with his wife’s hand, which paved the way for the creation of medical imaging technology. Leveled the road.
In 1896, X-rays were used in clinical medicine. For the first time, a stitch was taken out of the soft tissue of a woman in London.
Today, X-ray diagnosis results can show clearer details.
With the help of modern digital technology, X-ray diagnosis can also provide three-dimensional images of the human body.
3 Synthetic ammonia allows humans to get rid of the limitations of natural nitrogen fertilizers
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1918
Winner: Fritz Haber
Before the 19th century, the nitrogen fertilizer needed for agriculture mainly came from organic by-products, such as manure, seed cake and green manure.
If the abundant nitrogen in the air can be fixed and converted into a usable form, the food problem will be greatly alleviated.
Fritz Haber is one of the chemists engaged in the experimental and theoretical research of synthetic ammonia process conditions.
In 1909, Hubble took the lead to produce ammonia from the air, which freed human beings from the passive situation of relying on natural nitrogen fertilizers and accelerated the development of world agriculture.
4 Insulin brings light to diabetic patients
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923
Winners: Frederick Banting, John McLeod
Diabetes is a common endocrine and metabolic disease. Before the 20th century, diabetes was regarded as an incurable disease.
In the summer of 1922, Banting and McLeod isolated the active substance needed to consume sugar from the dog's body and injected this substance into a diabetic, dying dog. The dog’s condition soon appeared. Get better.
This substance is insulin.
5 Penicillin makes humans no longer fear bacterial infections
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945
Winners: Alexander Fleming, Ernst Burliss Chain, Howard Flory
Once, human beings were helpless against bacterial infections, and countless people died as a result.
It was not until the discovery of penicillin that humans began to gradually break away from the fear of being dominated by bacterial infections, and the average life span was significantly extended.
With their joint efforts, penicillin has moved from the laboratory to real life, benefiting mankind.
6 Lithium battery: creating a rechargeable green new world
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019
Winners: John Goodenough, Stanley Whittingham, Akira Yoshino
Their research has made lithium batteries smaller, larger in volume, and more stable in use. They have achieved commercialization and opened the process of portability of electronic devices.
In 1991, Sony produced the world's first commercial lithium battery. Since then, mobile phones, cameras, handheld camcorders and even electric vehicles have entered the era of portable new energy.
7 Normal temperature and pressure catalyzes convenient and cheap plastics
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1963
Winners: Karl Ziegler, Gurio Natta
In the 1950s, German chemist Karl Ziegler synthesized the Ziegler-Natta catalyst and used it in the production of polyethylene to obtain high-density polyethylene with few branches.
Italian chemical householder Rio Natta used this catalyst in polypropylene production, and obtained polypropylene with high degree of polymerization and high regularity.
The advent of Ziegler-Natta catalyst makes the production of many plastics no longer need high pressure, reduces production costs, and realizes the control of product structure and properties.
8 Helicobacter pylori is the culprit of stomach problems
2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Winners: Barry Marshall, Robin Warren
Previous scholars generally believed that it is impossible for gastric acid to allow bacteria to exist, and they have not found a fundamental way to treat gastric diseases.
Two scientists from Australia, Robin Warren and Barry Marshall, confirmed that Helicobacter pylori caused gastritis and gastric ulcers.
Ulcer disease has changed from a chronic disease that was difficult to cure and recurring to a disease that can be cured with a short course of antibiotics and acid inhibitors.
9 Animal feed is stored longer due to this method
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1945
Winner: Alturi Irmari Vertanen
Nowadays, people can buy milk, cheese and other dairy products at any time throughout the year, but a long time ago, due to the shortage of winter feed, the milk production of dairy cows and other livestock decreased, which could not meet people's needs.
From 1924 to 1948, Finnish biochemist Alturi Ilmari Vertanen studied the fermentation process of silage rot at the University of Helsinki.
Because the lactic acid of the fermentation product can increase the acidity of the silage, the fermentation is terminated.
Based on this principle, he developed an AIV method that can prevent decay without affecting its use and nutritional value.
10 IVF helps more families enjoy the family
2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Winner: Robert Edwards
On July 25, 1978, "the father of test tube babies"-British physiologist Robert Edwards helped the world's first test tube babies come to the world.
He discovered the important principle of human fertilization and successfully realized the in vitro fertilization of human egg cells.
Approximately 10% of couples in the world suffer from infertility. All of this has been solved with the advent of in vitro fertilization technology, which benefits millions of families every year.
(Compiled by intern Zhao Xuan, intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin)