Simple English News Daily Bonus episode from English Learning for Curious Minds: The Curious Origins of the Nobel Prize
Oct 25, 2025
Discover the intriguing life of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, whose mistaken obituary pushed him to reassess his legacy. Learn how Nobel's early life and relationships, especially with peace activist Bertha von Suttner, shaped his decision to create the Nobel Prizes. Explore the impacts of dynamite on construction and warfare, and uncover the controversies surrounding the Peace Prize. Notable laureates like Marie Curie and Martin Luther King Jr. highlight the prize's significant global influence, filled with both acclaim and criticism.
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The Famous Misprinted Obituary
- A French newspaper accidentally published Alfred Nobel's obituary calling him the "merchant of death."
- Reading it reportedly pushed Nobel to create prizes to change how he would be remembered.
Formative Years Shaped A Global Inventor
- Alfred Nobel's childhood and education across Sweden and Russia shaped his multilingual, scientific mind.
- Early exposure to engineering and languages helped him become an international inventor and businessman.
From Nitroglycerin To Dynamite
- In Paris Nobel learned about nitroglycerin from Ascanio Sobrero and obsessively worked to stabilise it.
- His experiments led to dynamite, which he named from the Greek word dynamis, meaning power.
