Alfred Nobel is best known for inventing dynamite in 1867. He discovered that mixing nitroglycerin with an absorbent substance like diatomaceous earth made it safer to handle and use. This invention revolutionized construction and demolition but also had significant military applications.
Nobel was a prolific inventor with 355 patents to his name. His inventions spanned various fields, including chemistry, optics, biology, and weapons technology. His contributions significantly advanced industrial and scientific progress during his time.
The Nobel Prizes were established by Alfred Nobel’s last will and testament. He left the majority of his fortune to create the prizes, inspired partly by a premature obituary that called him the "merchant of death" for his invention of dynamite.
Nobel was a polyglot who spoke several languages, including Swedish, Russian, English, French, and German. He was also an avid reader and writer, deeply interested in literature and philosophy.
Despite his wealth and accomplishments, Nobel led a rather lonely life and never married. He suffered from chronic health problems and described his existence as somewhat sorrowful.