Cypriot Scientist Demis Hassabis Wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Demis Hassabis, a Greek-Cypriot scientist, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside David Baker and John Jumper for their groundbreaking work on protein structure.

The prestigious award, announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, recognises their contributions to understanding the architecture of proteins, which play crucial roles in biological processes.

The academy highlighted two significant discoveries: the construction of novel proteins and the long-sought ability to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences. Baker received half of the prize for his advancements in computational protein design, while Hassabis and Jumper shared the other half for their work on protein structure prediction.

The Nobel Prize, established in the will of inventor Alfred Nobel, is awarded to those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humanity. This year’s chemistry award adds to the accolades of past recipients, including legendary figures like Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford. The award, valued at 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million), will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, followed by a banquet hosted by the Swedish king.

(Source: Reuters)