LA PLATA, Md. — The 2025 Nobel Prizes are being announced this week, celebrating breakthroughs that have changed how we understand the world — and Maryland has a proud place in that history.
From its universities to its federal research labs, Maryland has long been home to scientists and scholars whose discoveries earned global recognition. As this year’s laureates are revealed across medicine, physics, chemistry and literature, the state’s lasting influence on Nobel-level research is clear.
Maryland’s Nobel Legacy
Maryland has long been a place where discovery thrives. With powerhouse institutions like Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the state has produced or hosted more than a dozen Nobel laureates whose work has shaped the world — from William D. Phillips’s groundbreaking experiments in atomic cooling at NIST Gaithersburg to Carol Greider’s pioneering research on the genetics of aging at Johns Hopkins.
At the University of Maryland, College Park, two Nobel laureates — John C. Mather (Physics, 2006) and William D. Phillips (Physics, 1997) — continue to inspire students and researchers alike. Alumni such as Herbert A. Hauptman (Chemistry, 1985) and Raymond Davis Jr. (Physics, 2002) also began their scientific paths there before earning global recognition. The university now invests more than $1 billion each year in research, fueling work in quantum computing, energy and life sciences.
Johns Hopkins University — Maryland’s most decorated institution — proudly claims 29 Nobel laureates across its schools and research centers. Recent winners like Gregg Semenza (Medicine, 2019), Carol Greider (Medicine, 2009) and Peter Agre (Chemistry, 2003) highlight the university’s enduring reputation for breakthroughs that improve human health and deepen our understanding of biology. Hopkins often celebrates these achievements through lectures and community outreach, linking its research to real-world impact.
2025 Nobel Laureates Announced
Physiology or Medicine — Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi
They were honored for uncovering how the immune system maintains peripheral tolerance, identifying regulatory T cells and the FOXP3 gene, which guard against autoimmunity.
Physics — John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John M. Martinis
Recognized for groundbreaking work in superconducting circuits and quantum tunneling that laid the foundation for quantum computing.
Chemistry — Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi
They were awarded for breakthroughs in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), materials that combine modularity and porosity with wide-ranging applications.
Literature — László Krasznahorkai
The Hungarian novelist was honored for a deeply visionary, singular body of work — celebrated for sustaining the power of art amid “apocalyptic terror.”
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded– María Corina Machado
Honored “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” A longtime opposition leader and industrial engineer, Machado has been a leading voice in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement and a symbol of peaceful resistance.
The Economic Sciences award will be announced on Monday, Oct. 13.
What ‘Laureate’ Means
The word laureate comes from the ancient Greek tradition of crowning victors with laurel wreaths as a symbol of honor and achievement. The term has carried through the centuries to describe those distinguished for excellence in their field. Combined with the Nobel name, it simply means a recipient of the Nobel Prize — a modern version of being “crowned” for contributions that advance humanity.
Peace Prize Secrecy Tradition
Despite global speculation, the names of Peace Prize nominees remain confidential for 50 years, a rule set by Alfred Nobel’s statutes and upheld by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. This year’s field reportedly includes 338 candidates — 244 individuals and 94 organizations — though their identities are locked in the institute’s archives until 2075.
Nobel Voices in Charles County: Malala Yousafzai Event Oct. 22
Readers can join 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai with Charles County Public Library for a virtual reading and conversation on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. The event will explore her memoir “Finding My Way” and her continuing advocacy for girls’ education.
Quick Facts About the Nobel Prize
- Created by: Alfred Nobel, inventor and philanthropist
- First awarded: 1901
- Presented: Dec. 10 each year, on the anniversary of Nobel’s death
- Announced: Each October
- Prize amount: 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1 million USD) per full Nobel Prize
- What laureates receive: A gold medal, a hand-painted diploma and prize money
Watch the Nobel Prize announcements on YouTube; you can learn more at nobelprize.org.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!
Can an autopen get a Nobel Prize?