It's OK, there isn't one in economics either, they just stole the name..<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Memorial_Prize_in_Economic_Sciences#Controversies_and_criticisms" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Memorial_Prize_in_Economi...</a>
As an earth sciences student I heard exactly the same myth about Nobel being cuckold by a geologist, explaining why there was no prize in geology. It's funny to see that the myth knows no disciplinary boundaries.
That's covered by the Fields medal.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal</a>
Google cache entry, since the link is currently down:<p><a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~alopez-o/math-faq/node50.html" rel="nofollow">http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https:/...</a>
<i>However, the story of some rivalry over a woman is obviously much more amusing, and that's why it will probably continue to be repeated.</i><p>Great storytellers never let facts get in the way of a good yarn!
there is less money in mathematics than in the sciences, unless you're the NSA or similar ;)<p>that said, i have a history as a math and physics geek and am disappointed to see a more limited patronage of mathematics compared to the sciences. mathematics would not have advanced the same way it did without substantial patronage from the european ruling class.
When Nobel created the price there were not computers, so Math was very similar to Philosophy, it became harder and harder to make great discoveries by the law of diminishing returns, while with other sciences it was different.
This is very strange timing for me, I was positive there was a Nobel in maths and nearly said that instead of Medicine as the final quiz question last night! Would have cost me £300 if I did and this thread would have been horrible.
Because the Nobel prizes are inherently political -- scientists and governments alike needed to justify the enormous investment in the LHC, and what better way than a token Nobel award?<p>The LHC may be worth the investment but the Nobel prizes aren't any indicator of it.