Stockholm: The 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded on Tuesday to Japenese scientists Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and American scientist Shuji Nakamura for the invention of efficient blue light emitting diodes- a new energy efficient and environment-friendly light source.
The trio of scientists will share prize money of eight million kronor.
Akasaki, 85, is a professor at Meijo University and distinguished professor at Nagoya University. Amano, 54, is also a professor at Nagoya University, while the 60-year-old Nakamura is a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Announcement of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics - http://t.co/BN1CELKlFR
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2014
The laureates triggered a transformation of lighting technology when they produced bright blue light from semiconductors in the 1990s, something scientist had struggled with for decades, the Nobel committee said.
1/4 of world electricity consumption is used for lighting purposes, LED contribute to saving the Earth’s resources. pic.twitter.com/U1FqKluppD
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2014
Nakamura, who spoke to reporters in Stockholm over a crackling telephone line after being woken up by the phone call from the prize jury, said it was an amazing, and unbelievable feeling.
The Nobel Prizes are awarded in recognition of scientific and cultural research and advances for 113 years. The physics Nobel has been awarded to 196 other laureates since 1901.
