Nobel Prize Day – Mathematics Not Included?

The Nobel Prizes are awarded on 10 December. There is no Nobel Prize in mathematics. Why? The story that Nobel’s wife had an affair with a mathematician (Mittag‑Leffler) is likely false. The real reason: Nobel wanted prizes for practical, beneficial inventions – he considered mathematics too abstract. The Fields Medal (1936) and the Abel Prize (2003) fill the gap. The lack of a Nobel in math has not stopped mathematicians from being honoured (e.g., Nash won Economics Nobel). Mathematics is its own reward.