The Nobel ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo in 1972 captured a moment when scientific breakthroughs and cultural achievements converged with global issues of the era. Those announcements still offer a useful lens for understanding how research, literature and peace efforts were recognized at the time.
There are 11 1972 Nobel Prize Winners, ranging from Christian B. Anfinsen to William H. Stein. For each laureate, you’ll find below concise entries organized by Prize,Country,Citation (short) so you can quickly see the award, nationality and the short reason they were honored — you’ll find below.
Which categories do the 1972 Nobel Prize Winners represent?
The 1972 laureates cover the core Nobel categories—Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace—and the Prize in Economic Sciences; the list below groups each name with Prize,Country,Citation (short) so you can scan disciplines and nationalities at a glance.
Where can I read the full citations and biographical details for each 1972 laureate?
For full citations and biographies check the Nobel Prize official site and the Nobel Foundation pages, which provide primary citations, speeches and links to further reading; the compact entries below point you to those original sources.
1972 Nobel Prize Winners
| Laureate | Prize | Country | Citation (short) |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Bardeen | Physics | United States | for development of the theory of superconductivity (BCS theory) |
| Leon Cooper | Physics | United States | for development of the theory of superconductivity (BCS theory) |
| John Schrieffer | Physics | United States | for development of the theory of superconductivity (BCS theory) |
| Christian B. Anfinsen | Chemistry | United States | for studies on ribonuclease linking amino acid sequence to folding |
| Stanford Moore | Chemistry | United States | for studies on ribonuclease linking amino acid sequence to folding |
| William H. Stein | Chemistry | United States | for studies on ribonuclease linking amino acid sequence to folding |
| Gerald Edelman | Physiology or Medicine | United States | for discoveries concerning the chemical structure of antibodies |
| Rodney Porter | Physiology or Medicine | United Kingdom | for discoveries concerning the chemical structure of antibodies |
| Heinrich Böll | Literature | Germany | for his novels and stories depicting post-war human experience |
| Kenneth J. Arrow | Economic Sciences | United States | for contributions to general equilibrium and welfare theory |
| John Hicks | Economic Sciences | United Kingdom | for contributions to general equilibrium and welfare theory |
Images and Descriptions
John Bardeen
American physicist John Bardeen shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing BCS theory of superconductivity. Born in the USA, his work explained electron pairing, transforming low-temperature physics and enabling advances in electronics and condensed-matter research.
Leon Cooper
American physicist Leon Cooper co-developed the BCS theory explaining superconductivity by electron pairing. His 1972 Nobel recognized this theoretical breakthrough from US research, which clarified microscopic mechanisms and influenced superconductivity and quantum condensed-matter physics.
John Schrieffer
American physicist John Schrieffer co-authored the BCS theory, earning the 1972 Nobel Prize for explaining superconductivity’s microscopic mechanism. His theoretical contributions from US institutions helped bridge theory and experiment, shaping modern condensed-matter physics.
Christian B. Anfinsen
American biochemist Christian B. Anfinsen shared the 1972 Chemistry Nobel for work on protein folding, particularly ribonuclease. His experiments showed amino acid sequence determines protein shape, a foundational discovery for molecular biology and protein chemistry.
Stanford Moore
American biochemist Stanford Moore received part of the 1972 Chemistry Nobel with William H. Stein for studies of ribonuclease and peptide sequencing. His analytical work advanced understanding of protein structure and function, impacting enzymology and biochemistry.
William H. Stein
American biochemist William H. Stein shared the 1972 Chemistry Prize for protein chemistry and ribonuclease research. His methods for peptide separation and amino acid analysis helped reveal relationships between sequence and biological activity.
Gerald Edelman
American biologist Gerald Edelman won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries on antibody structure. His work, conducted in the USA, revealed how immune diversity arises and how antibodies function chemically.
Rodney Porter
British biochemist Rodney Porter shared the 1972 Medicine Nobel for determining antibodies’ chemical structure. His UK-based research mapped immunoglobulin architecture, crucial for immunology, vaccine development, and understanding immune response.
Heinrich Böll
German novelist Heinrich Böll received the 1972 Nobel Prize in Literature for his insightful post-war fiction. His works from West Germany explored moral responsibility, ordinary people’s struggles, and political critique with sharp clarity and humane empathy.
Kenneth J. Arrow
American economist Kenneth J. Arrow shared the 1972 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for contributions to general equilibrium and welfare theory. His formal models from the USA influenced economics, welfare analysis, and modern microeconomic theory.
John Hicks
British economist John Hicks shared the 1972 Economics Prize for advances in general equilibrium and welfare economics. His theoretical frameworks, developed in the UK, shaped price theory, consumer choice, and modern economic analysis.
