Explosive Eureka: Top 11 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Alfred Nobel You Never Knew!

1. Explosive Mastermind: 413 Patents

Step aside, Thomas Edison, for there's another lord of the intellectual realm whose light shines just as bright, if not with more explosive flair: Alfred Nobel, the Swedish mastermind with more patents than a copycat inventor's workshop, boasts a whopping 413 patents including game-changers like dynamite, artificial silk and steam production.
Source => nobelprize.org

2. Nobel Family Feud: Prize Drama

In a twist of fate worthy of a telenovela, Alfred Nobel's family went full "Game of Thrones" on his grand philanthropic gesture after his demise: It turns out the Nobel Prize, established by the inventor of dynamite himself, faced initial opposition from his very own family, and even the original prize awarders he picked refused to play along. This led to a controversial founding of the prestigious award, and it wasn't until five years later that the first Nobel Prizes could finally be handed out in 1901.
Source => nobelprize.org

Did you know Marie Curie's cookbooks and personal belongings are still radioactive after 100 years? Even her manuscripts require protective clothing to access! Discover more fascinating facts about this famous scientist.

=> Fun Facts about Marie-Curie

3. Tree-Hugging Dynamite Lover

Alfred Nobel, the original Iron Man with a penchant for "blowing things up", had a heart that secretly hugged trees and sang Kumbaya: He despised war and instead envisioned his explosives being used for peaceful ventures like the Panama Canal, ultimately using his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes, recognizing achievements in areas like science, literature, and peace.
Source => mcgill.ca

4. Gas Meter: Boom Meets Utility

Hold onto your gas pumps, things are about to get explosive: Alfred Nobel, the dynamite-inventing genius, also concocted the gas meter in 1857, which has evolved into a "smart" titan in today's residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, measuring fuel gas volume like a boss.
Source => petroleumservicecompany.com

5. Traveling Polyglot Patent King

When Alfred Nobel wasn't busy cooking up all things that go "boom!", he moonlighted as a traveler, real estate aficionado, and amateur linguist: Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prizes, owned properties in Sweden, France, and Italy, held around 355 patents, and wrote his infamous will in Swedish, French, German, and English—all without the help of a pesky lawyer!
Source => blogs.loc.gov

6. Centuries of Award Legacy

You've heard of family feuds, but Nobel's was more like a "prizefight": Alfred Nobel's will, which established the prestigious Nobel Prizes, didn't spark a family dispute despite some criticism and initial challenges. Although concerns arose about the lack of reserved prizes for Swedes and the fact that the institutions he named to choose the winners had not been consulted, the prestigious honors have flourished for over a century, shining a light on the world's brightest minds in fields ranging from physics and chemistry to peace and literature.
Source => ischool.uw.edu

7. Inventor of Synthetic Fabrics

He may not have been the "Dynamite" King, but Alfred Nobel sure knew how to blow minds when it came to innovation: Holding an impressive 355 patents by the time of his death, Nobel not only gifted the world with his explosive creation, but was also an intrepid inventor dabbling in synthetic materials like rubber, leather, and even artificial silk.
Source => nobelprize.org

8. Nobel Sibling Empire: Oil & Dynamite

Before the Kardashians, the Nobel siblings struck oil and (dynamite) gold: Alfred Nobel's brothers, Robert and Ludvig, founded Branobel oil company in Baku, Azerbaijan, which grew into a thriving business, while Alfred's fortune boomed from his invention of dynamite and other patents.
Source => rferl.org

9. Teen Polyglot Genius

Alfred Nobel, the original "language whisperer": By the tender age of 17, this polyglot powerhouse had already mastered Swedish, Russian, French, English, and German, thanks to private tutors who gave him a linguistic leg-up.
Source => nobelprize.org

10. War-Inspired Peaceful Legacy

Here's a dynamite twist: Alfred Nobel didn't create the Nobel Prizes thanks to a comically inaccurate obituary, but rather from a "blast" of inspiration after witnessing his explosive invention used in warfare. Seriously, though: The inventor of dynamite left a peaceful legacy by establishing the prestigious awards in his will, honoring contributions in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace.
Source => fancycomma.com

11. Alfred's Igniting Creativity

Exploding onto the scene with countless ingenious ideas, Alfred Nobel sure knew how to have a blast during his remarkably inventive lifetime: With over 355 patents under his scientifically savvy belt, Alfred brought us dynamite, synthetic rubber, and even more efficient gunpowder, truly igniting the world with his explosive creativity.
Source => nobelprize.org