English practice 33

Alfred Nobel

How interesting that the Nobel Peace Prize Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. A Swedish-born scientist, Alfred Nobel was the son of Immanuel Nobel, a brilliant and accomplished engineer. Born in 1833, Alfred quickly his father's footsteps, latching on to chemistry in particular. He to developing a myriad of materials and substances, patenting over 300 inventions throughout his lifetime.

Nobel's work with dynamite was obviously fraught with risk and danger and, indeed, Nobel lost his younger brother, Emil, to an explosion in their own laboratory. 34 Nobel knew that nitroglycerin, the basis for dynamite, had great potential as a useful substance, but he also knew that a big part of his work must resolve the safety

(1) Due to more stringent laws enacted in Stockholm regarding explosive materials, Nobel moved his lab and onto a barge in a nearby lake. (2) There he discovered to control how dynamite is detonated, and, subsequently, patented the blasting cap. (3) He also figured out how to safely transport nitroglycerin by converting it from a liquid into a paste. (4) Once Nobel had a safe, usable product, he established his company, Nitroglycerin AB, in 1864. (5) In little time, became useful to consumers, but he continued to work on many other inventions and products. (6) Among his many patents were synthetic versions of rubber, silk, and leather, all of which are still used today. 39

Nobel was also a scholar had In instructed his estate to to be given to outstanding contributors in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. On December 10 each year, corresponding to Nobel's date of death, prizes are awarded to people from .