When it comes to winning the Nobel Prize in medicine, responses can range from the heartwarming “happy surprise” to the utterly perplexed “don’t be ridiculous!” And oh, the winners sure served up a platter of reactions on October 6, 2025.
Meet the trio behind the groundbreaking research: Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi. Their noble endeavor? Preventing the immune system from turning on its own body—because who needs enemies when you can have your own antibodies taking shots at you?
Dr. Sakaguchi, a venerable 74 years old and a distinguished professor at Osaka University, received the auspicious call from Thomas Perlmann, secretary-general of the Nobel Committee. Rumor has it, his first response was gratitude tinged with disbelief—perhaps a sprinkle of “Wait, what?” or “Is this a prank?”
‘Did Not Expect This Before My Evening Tea’
“A happy surprise,” he later declared at a press conference, which we assume was almost as unexpected as finding a salad in a fast-food joint. Sakaguchi, the humble sage, thought he’d have to wait until science made all of his research worthy enough for someone to notice. Spoiler: They did.
Mid-press conference, a whimsical turn arrived when Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dialed in to congratulate him. Naturally, the PM wanted to know when Sakaguchi’s research might lead to a cure for cancer—because, you know, no pressure at all. To which Sakaguchi quipped that perhaps in 20 years’ time, “cancer will no longer be scary, just treatable”—assuming he’s still around, of course. Fingers crossed for science!
Now, about the others: Mary E Brunkow, 64, and Fred Ramsdell, also 64, were in the midst of their beauty sleep when the Nobel Committee tried to reach them. Apparently, waking people up at dawn is not considered polite, even if you are calling with exciting news that could translate into a hefty paycheck.
‘Didn’t Recognize My Own Fame’
Brunkow, who eventually got the news through a photographer—seriously, not a single Nobel call—thought it was all a joke. “When I saw a number from Sweden, I thought, ‘That’s just some spam call,’” she admitted, proving that sometimes you really can’t trust Siri. Her husband chimed in with, “When I told Mary she won, she said, ‘don’t be ridiculous!’” Talk about humble pie, served with a side of disbelief.
The Nobel Committee’s chair, Olle Kämpe, could barely contain the excitement, exclaiming that their discoveries have “decisively advanced our understanding” of the immune system. Who knew autoimmunity could make for such a thrilling topic? Especially when you consider the prize money: a whopping 11 million Swedish kronor—or about $1.2 million. Talk about a golden ticket to scientific endeavors or maybe a lifetime supply of fancy coffee!
Mark your calendars, folks; the award ceremony is set for December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, which practically invites you to both celebrate and ponder your own mortality. The Nobel Prize announcements will continue—with physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. Peace Prize on Friday, followed by the economic prize on October 13. Remember, it’s like a reality show, but with more intellect and fewer dramatic roses.
