The 2014 Nobel Prize Winners For Physics and Medicine is for the discoveries of the invention of the efficient LED light, and the discovery of the mapping and navigation cells in the brain.
The Award for Physics:
The Nobel prize winner of 2014 for Physics are “Isamu Akasaki”, “Hiroshi Amano”, and Shuji Nakamura”. The three help invent the more efficient blue light emitting diodes (LED) that transmitted bright white light that is very energy efficient. The invention allowed for various lights sources such as lamps to last longer, and use more efficient use of energy.
About a fourth of the world electricity is used for lighting. The LED light contributes to saving the Earth resources. The traditional incandescent bulbs only last on average around 10,000 hours, whereas LED lights can last on average 100,000 hours.
One such advantage the LED light has over incandescent bulbs is that LED’s can be powered by low priced solar power. This invention was created back in the early 1990s.
The Award for Medicine:
The Nobel Prize winners for 2014 are “John O’Keefe”, May-Britt Moser”, and “Edvard I. Moser”. The three people discovered cells that act as a positioning system. These cells act as the inner GPS (Global positioning system) in the brain. These cells allows for the possibilities of orientation in space. This shows a cellular base for higher cognitive function.
John O’Keefe found the first evidence of the positioning system in the brain. John discovered a type of nerve cell in the brain in the hippocampus that are called “place cells” that enabled the mind to form a map of the room.
The second part of the discovery was later seen in 2005 by “Edvard Moser” and “May-Britt”. These two researchers discovered “grid cells” that create a coordinate system for the actions for a precise positioning and path finding. These cells allow for the possibility of positioning and navigation seen for humans, animals, and other organisms.
These discoveries enabled a more understanding of how the brain creates a map of the surrounding environment around us and how we are able to navigate our way through the environment.
Nobel Prize:
The Nobel Prize is given out by The Nobel Foundation that was established in 1900 by Alfred Nobel. The foundation awards the prize to people with breakthrough discoveries in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. (Nobel Prize Website)
Profiles: