October 21

Science Giants: Alfred Nobel

On this day in 1833, Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Nobel's father was an inventor who worked on ways to blast rocks for mining and building roads and bridges. Alfred Nobel carried on his father's work, and in 1863 he invented dynamite.

Alfred Nobel was very successful during his life. He decided to use his great wealth to reward great scientists and thinkers. Starting in 1901, Nobel Prizes have been awarded almost every year in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics. Nobel also created a prize for the person who benefits all people. This prize is called the Nobel Peace Prize.