New Nobel Prizes
New Nobel Prizes
[Megan stands at a podium on a stage, facing right. Behind her is a screen showing eight Nobel Prizes. Ponytail is approaching the front of the stage while waving.] Megan: And all eight Nobel Prizes for the Discovery of New Nobel Prizes have been awarded to... Megan: *sigh* Megan: ...Doctor Adams, again , for the discovery of two new Prizes. Dr. Adams: Thank you, thank you!
[Caption below frame:] We don't know how she started this and now we can't figure out how to stop her.

The Nobel Prize is a set of prizes awarded in memory of Alfred Nobel to, "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind."
In this comic a Nobel prize is being awarded for the discovery of two new Nobel prizes. This parallels Nobel Prizes awarded for the discovery of new elements . However, unlike elements, Nobel Prizes cannot be discovered. [ citation needed ]
The comic suggests that the doctor, presumably a social psychologist and the world's top expert on Impostor Syndrome , being awarded the prize came up with the idea of "discovering" Nobel Prizes, and no one can figure out how to stop awarding them to her.
In reality, the categories were established by Alfred Nobel's will for contributions or discoveries in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. In 1968, Sweden's central bank funded an award for economics in honor of its 300th anniversary that is also colloquially called the Nobel Prize in Economics . While there is currently a petition to add a Nobel prize for contributions to environmental conservation, it would presumably also need external funding, although the decision process is unclear.
The title text is a play on the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine , insinuating that the Nobel Assembly (the group in charge of awarding Nobel Prizes) has become so desperate to stop Doctor Adams that they have decided to award a Nobel Prize to anyone who can make her stop 'discovering' new prizes. The joke also plays on the name of the said prize, because as of the writing of this comic the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is the only Nobel Prize with two subjects (i.e. with "or" in the title). This may also be a jab by Randall at the fields of Physiology and Medicine, as poking fun at other disciplines is a recurring theme on xkcd. [ citation needed ]
This comic was published on the Monday the week following the announcements of the 2021 Nobel Prize recipients.
[Megan stands at a podium on a stage, facing right. Behind her is a screen showing eight Nobel Prizes. Ponytail is approaching the front of the stage while waving.] Megan: And all eight Nobel Prizes for the Discovery of New Nobel Prizes have been awarded to... Megan: *sigh* Megan: ...Doctor Adams, again , for the discovery of two new Prizes. Dr. Adams: Thank you, thank you!
[Caption below frame:] We don't know how she started this and now we can't figure out how to stop her.
