On October 7, 2024, US researchers Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in gene regulation.

Their significant findings emerged in the early 1990s during a late-night phone call while they were discussing research on roundworms.

Initially, their work faced skepticism, with many in the scientific community doubting its relevance to humans and complex organisms.

Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, suggested that the Nobel Peace Prize might not be awarded this year to reflect the ongoing global conflicts.

Awarding the Nobel Prize to UNRWA could be controversial due to recent allegations of staff involvement in a Hamas attack on Israel.

The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots is also considered a potential laureate due to growing concerns about autonomous weapons systems.

Since the inception of the Clarivate list in 2002, 75 individuals recognized as 'Clarivate Citation Laureates' have received Nobel Prizes, although being listed does not guarantee an award.

In the literary category, names being discussed include Gerald Murnane, Salman Rushdie, and Haruki Murakami, among others.

Ruvkun noted that the Nobel Prize's limitation of awarding a maximum of three individuals can sometimes overlook deserving contributors.

Ruvkun, who holds a biophysics degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a PhD from Harvard, expressed that receiving the Nobel Prize is a unique experience compared to the numerous awards he has received over the past two decades.

This year, a total of 286 candidates were nominated for various Nobel Prizes, with notable nominees including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Pope Francis.

While nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize are kept secret for 50 years, organizations like EcoPeace and Women Wage Peace have been publicly nominated for their efforts in the Middle East.