Nobel Prize winners by year (1981–90)

year category name country* achievement literary area

1981

chemistry Fukui Kenichi Japan orbital symmetry interpretation of chemical reactions

chemistry Hoffmann, Roald U.S. orbital symmetry interpretation of chemical reactions

economics Tobin, James U.S. portfolio selection theory of investment

literature Canetti, Elias Bulgaria novelist, essayist

peace United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the (founded 1951)

physics Bloembergen, Nicolaas U.S. applications of lasers in spectroscopy

physics Schawlow, Arthur Leonard (Schawlow, Arthur L.) U.S. applications of lasers in spectroscopy

physics Siegbahn, Kai Manne Börje Sweden electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis

physiology/

medicine Hubel, David Hunter U.S. processing of visual information by the brain

physiology/

medicine Sperry, Roger Wolcott U.S. functions of the cerebral hemispheres

physiology/

medicine Wiesel, Torsten Nils Sweden processing of visual information by the brain

1982

chemistry Klug, Aaron U.K. determination of structure of biological substances

economics Stigler, George J. U.S. economic effects of governmental regulation

literature García Márquez, Gabriel Colombia novelist, journalist, social critic

peace García Robles, Alfonso Mexico

peace Myrdal, Alva (Myrdal, Alva Reimer) Sweden

physics Wilson, Kenneth Geddes U.S. analysis of continuous phase transitions

physiology/

medicine Bergström, Sune K. Sweden biochemistry and physiology of prostaglandins

physiology/

medicine Samuelsson, Bengt Ingemar Sweden biochemistry and physiology of prostaglandins

physiology/

medicine Vane, John Robert (Vane, Sir John Robert) U.K. biochemistry and physiology of prostaglandins

1983

chemistry Taube, Henry U.S. study of electron transfer reactions

economics Debreu, Gerard U.S. mathematical proof of supply and demand theory

literature Golding, Sir William U.K. novelist

peace Walesa, Lech (Wałęsa, Lech) Poland

physics Chandrasekhar, Subrahmanyan U.S. contributions to understanding the evolution and devolution of stars

physics Fowler, William A. U.S. contributions to understanding the evolution and devolution of stars

physiology/

medicine McClintock, Barbara U.S. discovery of mobile plant genes that affect heredity

1984

chemistry Merrifield, Bruce U.S. development of a method of polypeptide synthesis

economics Stone, Sir Richard U.K. development of national income accounting system

literature Seifert, Jaroslav Czech. poet

peace Tutu, Desmond South Africa

physics Meer, Simon van der The Netherlands discovery of subatomic particles W and Z, which supports the electroweak theory

physics Rubbia, Carlo Italy discovery of subatomic particles W and Z, which supports the electroweak theory

physiology/

medicine Jerne, Niels K. U.K.-Denmark theory and development of a technique for producing monoclonal antibodies

physiology/

medicine Köhler, Georges J.F. West Germany theory and development of a technique for producing monoclonal antibodies

physiology/

medicine Milstein, César Argentina theory and development of a technique for producing monoclonal antibodies

1985

chemistry Hauptman, Herbert A. U.S. development of a way to map the chemical structures of small molecules

chemistry Karle, Jerome U.S. development of a way to map the chemical structures of small molecules

economics Modigliani, Franco U.S. analyses of household savings and financial markets

literature Simon, Claude France novelist

peace International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (founded 1980)

physics Klitzing, Klaus von West Germany discovery of the quantized Hall effect, permitting exact measurements of electrical resistance

physiology/

medicine Brown, Michael S. U.S. discovery of cell receptors relating to cholesterol metabolism

physiology/

medicine Goldstein, Joseph L. U.S. discovery of cell receptors relating to cholesterol metabolism

1986

chemistry Herschbach, Dudley R. U.S. development of methods for analyzing basic chemical reactions

chemistry Lee, Yuan T. U.S. development of methods for analyzing basic chemical reactions

chemistry Polanyi, John C. Canada development of methods for analyzing basic chemical reactions

economics Buchanan, James M. U.S. public-choice theory bridging economics and political science

literature Soyinka, Wole Nigeria playwright, poet

peace Wiesel, Elie U.S.

physics Binnig, Gerd West Germany development of special electron microscopes

physics Rohrer, Heinrich Switzerland development of special electron microscopes

physics Ruska, Ernst West Germany development of special electron microscopes

physiology/

medicine Cohen, Stanley U.S. discovery of chemical agents that help regulate the growth of cells

physiology/

medicine Levi-Montalcini, Rita Italy discovery of chemical agents that help regulate the growth of cells

1987

chemistry Cram, Donald J. U.S. development of molecules that can link with other molecules

chemistry Lehn, Jean-Marie France development of molecules that can link with other molecules

chemistry Pedersen, Charles J. U.S. development of molecules that can link with other molecules

economics Solow, Robert Merton (Solow, Robert M.) U.S. contributions to the theory of economic growth

literature Brodsky, Joseph U.S. poet, essayist

peace Arias Sánchez, Oscar Costa Rica

physics Bednorz, J. Georg West Germany discovery of new superconducting materials

physics Müller, Karl Alex Switzerland discovery of new superconducting materials

physiology/

medicine Tonegawa Susumu Japan study of genetic aspects of antibodies

1988

chemistry Deisenhofer, Johann West Germany discovery of structure of proteins needed in photosynthesis

chemistry Huber, Robert West Germany discovery of structure of proteins needed in photosynthesis

chemistry Michel, Hartmut West Germany discovery of structure of proteins needed in photosynthesis

economics Allais, Maurice France contributions to the theory of markets and efficient use of resources

literature Mahfouz, Naguib Egypt novelist

peace United Nations Peacekeeping Forces

physics Lederman, Leon Max U.S. research in subatomic particles

physics Schwartz, Melvin U.S. research in subatomic particles

physics Steinberger, Jack U.S. research in subatomic particles

physiology/

medicine Black, Sir James U.K. development of new classes of drugs for combating disease

physiology/

medicine Elion, Gertrude Belle (Elion, Gertrude B.) U.S. development of new classes of drugs for combating disease

physiology/

medicine Hitchings, George Herbert U.S. development of new classes of drugs for combating disease

1989

chemistry Altman, Sidney U.S. discovery of certain basic properties of RNA

chemistry Cech, Thomas Robert U.S. discovery of certain basic properties of RNA

economics Haavelmo, Trygve Norway development of statistical techniques for economic forecasting

literature Cela, Camilo José Spain novelist

peace Dalai Lama Tibet

physics Dehmelt, Hans Georg U.S. development of methods to isolate atoms and subatomic particles for study

physics Paul, Wolfgang West Germany development of methods to isolate atoms and subatomic particles for study

physics Ramsey, Norman Foster U.S. development of the atomic clock

physiology/

medicine Bishop, J. Michael U.S. study of cancer-causing genes called oncogenes

physiology/

medicine Varmus, Harold U.S. study of cancer-causing genes called oncogenes

1990

chemistry Corey, Elias James U.S. development of retrosynthetic analysis for synthesis of complex molecules

economics Markowitz, Harry M. U.S. study of financial markets and investment decision making

economics Miller, Merton H. U.S. study of financial markets and investment decision making

economics Sharpe, William F. U.S. study of financial markets and investment decision making

literature Paz, Octavio Mexico poet, essayist

peace Gorbachev, Mikhail U.S.S.R.

physics Friedman, Jerome Isaac U.S. discovery of atomic quarks

physics Kendall, Henry Way (Kendall, Henry) U.S. discovery of atomic quarks

physics Taylor, Richard E. Canada discovery of atomic quarks

physiology/

medicine Murray, Joseph E. U.S. development of kidney and bone-marrow transplants

physiology/

medicine Thomas, E. Donnall U.S. development of kidney and bone-marrow transplants

*Nationality given is the citizenship of recipient at the time award was made. Prizes may be withheld or not awarded in years when no worthy recipient can be found or when the world situation (e.g., World Wars I and II) prevents the gathering of information needed to reach a decision.

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