Podcast Summary: "Who Smarted? – How did Dynamite cause the Nobel Peace Prize?"

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Episode: How did Dynamite cause the Nobel Peace Prize?
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Audience: Kids, families, and classrooms
Theme: The origins and significance of the Nobel Prize, focusing on its surprising connection to dynamite and Alfred Nobel

Episode Overview

This episode of "Who Smarted?" dives into the curious story of the Nobel Prize—one of the most famous global awards for science, literature, medicine, peace, and economics. With a humorous, interactive style, the hosts (and special historical guest, Alfred Nobel) explore how the invention of dynamite led its inventor to create an award celebrating achievements that better humanity. The episode mixes fascinating facts, playful quizzes, and memorable anecdotes, making Nobel's legacy as fun as it is informative.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Is the Nobel Prize? (04:12)

• The Nobel Prize is an award for exceptional achievements in several fields: physiology and medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics.
• Winners receive a medal, a diploma, and a cash award.
  • [04:36] Alfred Nobel: “People who are awarded the Nobel Prize receive a medal, a diploma, and money, which means the answer is D, all of the above.”

2. Origin of the “Nobel” Name (02:55)

• The award is named after Alfred Nobel, not because it’s "noble" or "no bell," but because it honors his legacy.

3. Alfred Nobel’s Story and Dynamite’s Impact (06:18)

• Nobel, a chemist and inventor, created dynamite and blasting caps, which made him wealthy but also contributed to violence.
• [07:09] Alfred Nobel: “Yep, I invented dynamite and blasting caps, which are the detonators used to explode dynamite from a distance. While this made me very wealthy, I did not want to be remembered for inventing things that were often used as weapons.”
• Troubled by his invention’s use in warfare, Nobel decided his fortune should reward those who better humanity.

4. Nobel Prize Fields and History (05:04-05:52)

• First awarded in 1901 in five areas: physiology/medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace. Economics was added in 1968.
• Nobel passed away in 1896 and never saw the first prizes awarded.

5. Notable Nobel Laureates and Their Achievements

Watson, Crick, Wilkin — DNA Structure (08:30, 08:57)

• Their discovery of DNA’s structure earned them the Nobel Prize in 1962.
• Fun fact: Their demonstration model for DNA was made using pieces of cardboard.
  • [09:25] Alfred Nobel: “But here’s the best part. You don’t need to have fancy building materials. Since the bases for the demonstration models weren’t ready in time, James Watson just cut some pieces out of cardboard.”

Marie Curie — Double Nobel Laureate (10:27-11:38)

• Won Physics (1903, shared) and Chemistry (1911, solo). First person and woman to win two Nobel Prizes.
• Her husband Pierre and later her daughter Irene also became laureates.
  • [10:27] Alfred Nobel: “It sure has. In 1903, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in physics. And in 1911, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.”

Youngest Winner — Malala Yousafzai (13:20-14:02)

• Won at 17 for her campaign for girls’ education.
  • [13:33] Alfred Nobel: “If you guessed 17 years old, you’re right. Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was only 17 years old.”

6. The Nobel Peace Prize’s Special Meaning (14:15-15:07)

• Of all the prizes, peace is closest to Nobel's heart.
  • [14:30] Alfred Nobel: “In my life, most of my friends were pacifists… they were not happy that I invented dynamite, which could be used as a weapon of war… So, honoring those who make bringing about peace their mission is something I hold very dearly.”

7. The Selection Process (15:08-15:47)

• Winners are chosen by committees, not past laureates or a single individual.
• The process takes about eight months each year due to global nominations and deliberation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mixing up “Nobel” and “no bell”:
  • [02:25] Grandma: “That’s easy. It’s because you don’t get any bells with your prize.”
• On inventing dynamite:
  • [07:09] Alfred Nobel: “Yep, I invented dynamite… While this made me very wealthy, I did not want to be remembered for inventing things that were often used as weapons.”
• On Marie Curie:
  • [10:27] Alfred Nobel: “It sure has. In 1903, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in physics… and in 1911, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.”
• On peace and regret:
  • [14:30] Alfred Nobel: “In my life, most of my friends were pacifists… they were not happy that I invented dynamite… honoring those who make bringing about peace their mission is something I hold very dearly.”
• On the quirky dream of a ‘Nobel Pizza Prize’:
  • [16:04] Chet Nickerson: “It seems Alfred Nobel… has just set a new record for eating pizza. In fact, he wants to create a new award called the Nobel Pizza Prize.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:45] Introduction to prizes and the Nobel Prize topic
• [02:55] Alfred Nobel is introduced (time-travel “guest”)
• [04:36] What winners receive
• [05:04] Fields of the Nobel Prize
• [06:18] The story behind Nobel’s invention of dynamite
• [08:30] DNA discovery and Nobel Prize connection
• [10:27] Marie Curie’s double laureate status
• [13:33] Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Peace Prize at 17
• [14:30] Nobel’s feelings toward peace and his legacy
• [15:08] How winners are chosen and the selection process

Tone and Style

The episode is energetic, humorous, and interactive—with puns, light-hearted banter, and direct questions to the audience (“smarty pants”). The recurring pizza-eating joke adds levity, and time-travel “guest” Alfred Nobel brings history to life in an accessible, playful way.

Concluding Thought

The episode leaves listeners with the message that anyone can aspire to make a difference—maybe even enough to win a Nobel Prize someday:

• [15:47] Host: “Who knows, smarty pants? Maybe one of you listening right now will go on to win a Nobel Prize for changing the world one day.”

Episode takeaway:
The Nobel Prize exists because Alfred Nobel, troubled by the negative uses of his invention (dynamite), chose to celebrate those who improve the world—reminding us that even our mistakes can lead to something positive.