Nobel Prize winners by year (1931–40)

year category name country* achievement literary area

1931

chemistry Bergius, Friedrich Germany invention and development of chemical high-pressure methods

chemistry Bosch, Carl Germany invention and development of chemical high-pressure methods

literature Karlfeldt, Erik Axel (posthumous award) Sweden poet

peace Addams, Jane U.S.

peace Butler, Nicholas Murray U.S.

physiology/

medicine Warburg, Otto Germany discovery of nature and action of respiratory enzyme

1932

chemistry Langmuir, Irving U.S. discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry

literature Galsworthy, John U.K. novelist

physics Heisenberg, Werner Germany creation of quantum mechanics

physiology/

medicine Adrian (of Cambridge), Edgar Douglas Adrian, 1st Baron (Adrian, Edgar Douglas Adrian, 1st Baron) U.K. discoveries regarding function of neurons

physiology/

medicine Sherrington, Sir Charles Scott U.K. discoveries regarding function of neurons

1933

literature Bunin, Ivan Alekseyevich U.S.S.R. poet, novelist

peace Angell, Sir Norman U.K.

physics Dirac, P.A.M. U.K. introduction of wave equations in quantum mechanics

physics Schrödinger, Erwin Austria introduction of wave equations

in quantum mechanics

physiology/

medicine Morgan, Thomas Hunt U.S. heredity transmission functions of chromosomes

1934

chemistry Urey, Harold C. U.S. discovery of heavy hydrogen

literature Pirandello, Luigi Italy dramatist

peace Henderson, Arthur U.K.

physiology/

medicine Minot, George Richards U.S. discoveries concerning liver

treatment for anemia

physiology/

medicine Murphy, William P. U.S. discoveries concerning liver treatment for anemia

physiology/

medicine Whipple, George H. U.S. discoveries concerning liver

treatment for anemia

1935

chemistry Joliot-Curie, Frédéric and Irène France synthesis of new radioactive elements

peace Ossietzky, Carl von Germany

physics Chadwick, Sir James U.K. discovery of the neutron

physiology/

medicine Spemann, Hans Germany organizer effect in embryo

1936

chemistry Debye, Peter The Netherlands work on dipole moments and diffraction of X-rays and electrons in gases

literature O'Neill, Eugene Karlfeldt, Erik AxelU.S. dramatist

peace Saavedra Lamas, Carlos Argentina

physics Anderson, Carl David U.S. discovery of the positron

physics Hess, Victor Francis Austria discovery of cosmic radiation

physiology/

medicine Dale, Sir Henry U.K. work on chemical transmission

of nerve impulses

physiology/

medicine Loewi, Otto Germany work on chemical transmission of nerve impulses

1937

chemistry Haworth, Sir Norman U.K. research on carbohydrates and vitamin C

chemistry Karrer, Paul Switzerland research on carotenoids,

flavins, and vitamins

literature Martin du Gard, Roger France novelist

peace Cecil (of Chelwood), Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 1st Viscount (Cecil, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 1st Viscount) U.K.

physics Davisson, Clinton Joseph U.S. experimental demonstration of the interference phenomenon in crystals irradiated by electrons

physics Thomson, Sir George Paget U.K. experimental demonstration of the interference phenomenon in crystals irradiated by electrons

physiology/

medicine Szent-Györgyi, Albert Hungary work on biological combustion

1938

chemistry Kuhn, Richard (declined) Germany carotenoid and vitamin research

literature Buck, Pearl U.S. novelist

peace Nansen International Office for Refugees (founded 1931)

physics Fermi, Enrico Italy disclosure of artificial radioactive elements produced by neutron irradiation

physiology/

medicine Heymans, Corneille Belgium discovery of role of sinus

and aortic mechanisms in

respiration regulation

1939

chemistry Butenandt, Adolf (declined) Germany work on sexual hormones

chemistry Ruzicka, Leopold (Ružička, Leopold) Switzerland work on polymethylenes and higher terpenes

literature Sillanpää, Frans Eemil Finland novelist

physics Lawrence, Ernest Orlando U.S. invention of the cyclotron

physiology/

medicine Domagk, Gerhard (declined) Germany antibacterial effect of Prontosil

*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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