Stockholm , Oct 09 (V7N): Scientists David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on protein structure. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award on Wednesday, with the prize valued at 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million).

David Baker received half of the prize for his contributions to "computational protein design," while Demis Hassabis and John Jumper shared the other half for their advancements in "protein structure prediction."

This prestigious prize, which is the third Nobel award announced annually, follows the announcements for medicine and physics earlier this week.

The Nobel Prizes were established based on the will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, to honor individuals who have made the greatest contributions to humanity. First awarded in 1901, the prizes cover the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace, with recipients sharing the adjusted prize amount.

Chemistry, one of Alfred Nobel's closest disciplines due to his own inventions, has often been awarded to renowned scientists like Ernest Rutherford and Marie Curie. Last year's prize was awarded to Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus, and Aleksey Ekimov for their work on quantum dots, tiny particles that are now used in flat screens, LED lamps, and medical imaging.

The 2024 winners will receive their medals from the Swedish king on December 10, followed by a grand banquet at Stockholm City Hall.
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