Posthumous Nobel win

THE Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to a Canadian cell biologist who died three days ago will stand, the Nobel Foundation said yesterday after examining its statutes against posthumous awards.

The Nobel committee, which is only supposed to consider living scientists, said it was unaware of the death of Ralph Steinman when it awarded the 10 million kronor ($1.5m) prize earlier yesterday.

Since 1974, the Nobel statutes don’t allow posthumous awards unless a laureate dies after the announcement but before the December 10 award ceremony.