Read Time: 3 min 19 sec
─────── October 11, 2025 ───────
Happy Saturday!
Yesterday, María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize for keeping “the flame of democracy burning” in Venezuela. The White House, meanwhile, has accused the Nobel committee of placing “politics over peace” by not choosing President Trump.
Today, we’ll explain what a Nobel Prize even is.
Only want to see us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays? Just click the button:
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Faith is not an instinct. It certainly is not a feeling — feelings don’t help much when you’re in the lions’ den or hanging on a wooden Cross.”
Elisabeth Elliot
BREWING QUESTIONS
WHAT YOU’RE ASKING
What’s a Nobel Prize?
Every year, prizes are awarded for contributions in six areas: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics, and peace.
They’re named after Alfred Nobel—the inventor of dynamite and 354 other things—who decided to award those who had “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” His last will & testament stipulated that his fortune (worth $232M in today’s dollars) be used to establish and award the prizes.
Cool! How Do I Win?
First, a “qualified nominator” must submit your name. These are typically prominent academics in the relevant field and past Nobel laureates.
Then, committees vote. If you get the majority of votes… You win! Decisions are announced in the first two weeks of October, and prizes are awarded on December 10th—the anniversary of Alfred’s death.
What Do the Winners Win Laureates Laur?
Each laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary award; this year, the prize is 11,000,000 Swedish Kronor ($1.15M USD).
The prizes are presented by the King of Sweden in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented by a committee in Oslo, Norway, in the presence of Norway’s king.
Are There Any Rules?
Nobel Prizes…
Can be split by up to three people
Cannot be awarded posthumously
Can only be given to individuals (except for the Peace Prize, which can go to an organization, e.g., the Red Cross has won three times)
Who Are Some Past Laureates?
Since the first ceremony in 1901, 987 individuals and 28 organizations have won Nobel Prizes, including Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The list of laureates isn’t without controversy. Dissenting Committee members resigned after the Peace Prize was awarded to Henry Kissinger (1973) and Yasser Arafat (1994), and the Committee has expressed regret for never awarding Gandhi a Peace Prize.
Want to hear more about Nobel Prizes? Today’s episode of the TPO Explains podcast is for you!
__
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Celebrating major contributors to humankind is an opportunity for us to remember that whenever we do anything creative or innovative, we are mirroring the First Creator, the One who made the heavens and the earth.
“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You, LORD, are the only God. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the stars of heaven worship you.”
Nehemiah 9:5-6 (CSB) (read full passage)
FROM OUR PARTNERS 🤠
Delete Your Data
Wish you could scrub your AIM screen name from your memory?
Well, sorry, CoolChurchGirl92. You can’t. But Incogni can scrub more dangerous data—like your address or SSN—from the corners of the Internet for you.
Your personal data is all over the Internet, and data brokers will sell it to anyone who can pay. Incogni wipes your data from the web, including 420+ data brokers and people search sites, to reduce scams, fraud, and identity theft and keep you safe.
Incogni is offering TPO readers 55% off their annual plan with the coupon code POUROVER. Have your personal data deleted from the internet today.
Curious how we choose sponsors? Learn more | Advertise with us
HOUSE BLEND
WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY
These educational games from the Nobel Prize website
The unfurling of a 100-meter-long balloon ladder…🎈
How TPO reader Caroline G. turns brushstrokes into worship. Her oil and watercolor paintings reveal God’s mercy in the everyday, mundane moments. Bring a piece of her beautiful art into your home!
*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!
WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…
Top News Article: Former NFL QB Mark Sanchez was stabbed.
Top Christian Perspective: Our call from James 3 to speak about all with dignity and respect (click here to download a wallpaper of it).
Top Whipped Cream: A very good (and smart) boy…
TAKE IT TO GO
WHAT WE’RE USING
Last weekend, I managed to soak in 11 chapters of Scripture… almost unintentionally!
I was heading out to walk the dog and decided to open the Dwell app. I chose the Book of Mark, narrated by Austin, at 1.25x speed and let the calming sounds of piano and cello fill the air. Before I knew it, I was back home making coffee and breakfast, and I'd gone through 11 chapters!
There's something irreplaceable about sitting down with a physical Bible, but Dwell has been a game-changer for me when I can't sit down and read. I can still spend quality time in the Word by listening.
Jason Woodruff | Founder
*From our partners
WHAT WE’RE PRAYING
God our Maker, we have failed in our call to care for Your world again and again… but today we celebrate. We celebrate the good in humanity that’s exemplified by this award: discipline, hard work, intelligence, selfless service, creativity, bravery, tenacity. We praise You for how these individuals’ talents will advance the common good.
And as we pioneer groundbreaking science and discover ingenious medical treatment possibilities and captivate the world with breathtaking beauty… we confess we are only peeking into the secret places You’ve created and inhabited from long ago. Your creativity is unmatched. Your genius is unsearchable. Your knowledge is eternal.
Want more prayers to help you see the headlines from an eternal perspective? Join us in Praying the News, TPO’s new (free) Sunday newsletter.
Your current referral count: {{ rp_num_referrals }}
Or copy and paste your referral link to others:
{{ rp_refer_url }}
Psst! Referrals must double opt-in (confirm their email address) to get TPO. So, follow up with that friend if your referral count hasn’t started climbing!