Nobel prize winners 2008

A police officer inspects the concert hall before the Nobel prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Winner of the 2008 Nobel prize in chemistry, US scientist Roger Tsien, blows a kiss after receiving his medal and diploma from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in the concert hall in Stockholm. Tsien was awarded the prize for the discovery and development of a green fluorescent protein Photograph: Scanpix Sweden/Reuters

Harald zur Hausen, of Germany, reacts after receiving the 2008 Nobel prize in medicine. The prize was given to three researchers, with Zur Hausen awarded one half for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer, and one half shared by Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of France for their discovery of the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters

Nobel laureate of medicine, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, second right, speaks with King Carl XVI Gustaf during the banquet Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

The third medicine laureate Luc Montagnier of France receives his award. Nobel laureates all receive a gold medal and a diploma, as well as 10m Swedish kroner that can be split between up to three winners Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Luc Montagnier and French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, winner of the 2008 Nobel prize in literature Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The Nobel prize banquet Photograph: Henrik Montgomery/AP

2008 Nobel chemistry prize laureate Martin Chalfie, left, of the United States, receives his award from King Carl XVI Gustaf Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

The Swedish royal family preside over the awards ceremony, held at Concert House Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

University of Chicago physicist Yoichiro Nambu, left, meets Jonas Hafstrom, Swedish ambassador to the United States, before the Nobel prize award ceremony at the University of Chicago, Illinois. The ceremony to present the 2008 Nobel prize in physics to Nambu was held in Chicago as he was unable to travel to Stockholm Photograph: /Reuters

Prize winner for economic sciences Paul Krugman of the US listens to questions during a press conference after his lecture at Aula Magna auditorium at Stockholm University. Globalisation expert and firebrand critic of President George Bush's handling of the US financial crisis, Krugman won the Nobel for formulating a theory that determines the effects of free trade and globalisation Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

One of the joint Nobel prizewinners in chemistry, Osamu Shimomura of Japan, shows a sample of his discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) during his lecture at Stockholm University Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Finland's former president Martti Ahtisaari, 71, has been awarded the Nobel peace prize for his efforts, spanning more than three decades, to resolve numerous international conflicts. These efforts have contributed to a more peaceful world and to "fraternity between nations" in Alfred Nobel's spirit, the prize committee said when making its announcement Photograph: Terje Pedersen / Rex Features

Martti Ahtisaari waves to a crowd marching past the Norwegian parliament in Oslo holding torches in his honour. The young boy holding the Finnish flag is family friend Eemil Kivela Photograph: Odd Andersen/AP