Nobel Laureate Remains Unreachable in Idaho Wilderness
In an unusual twist to this year's Nobel Prize announcements, American scientist Fred Ramsdell remains unaware that he has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, more than 24 hours after the official announcement. According to his colleague Jeffrey Bluestone, Ramsdell is likely 'on a hiking trip in the wilderness of Idaho' and completely disconnected from digital communications.
The Elusive Laureate
The Nobel Committee in Stockholm announced yesterday morning that this year's medicine prize would be shared between Ramsdell, his colleague Mary Brunkow, and Japanese researcher Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking work on regulatory T cells and immune system regulation. Committee Secretary Thomas Perlmann confirmed that only Sakaguchi had been successfully contacted at the time of the announcement.
'The other two probably have their phones on silent. I left a message asking them to call back,' Perlmann told reporters, suggesting the time difference with the US West Coast might be complicating communications.
Sleeping Through the News
Brunkow later confirmed Perlmann's suspicions when she revealed she had slept through the Nobel Committee's call. 'I was fast asleep when my phone vibrated at 1:00 AM. I saw an odd number from Sweden and turned it off. I thought it was probably spam,' she admitted.
The situation escalated when her husband's phone also rang shortly after, and neither answered. Even when a reporter appeared in their garden late at night, Brunkow remained skeptical. 'I told my husband not to be silly when he said someone was on the porch. But I am honored and proud,' she added.
Historical Precedent
This isn't the first time Nobel laureates have proven difficult to reach. In 2020, the Nobel Committee had to enlist laureate Paul Milgrom to wake his sleeping colleague Robert Wilson to inform him they had jointly won the economics prize.
Bluestone expressed no concern about Ramsdell's absence, noting that the scientist is 'living his best life' with his digital detox in nature. The research that earned them the Nobel has been described as groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance, fundamentally changing our understanding of how the immune system prevents autoimmune diseases.
Scientific Breakthrough
The trio's work identified regulatory T cells as the immune system's 'security guards' that prevent the body from attacking its own tissues. Their research, particularly the identification of the Foxp3 gene mutation that causes fatal autoimmune conditions, has launched the field of peripheral tolerance and spurred over 200 clinical trials for treatments targeting cancer, autoimmune diseases, and stem cell transplantation.
Meanwhile, Sakaguchi has had more time to process the news. 'I want to call it a pleasant surprise,' he said calmly during a press conference in Osaka. 'I thought our research would be interesting for doctors and might eventually lead to a prize, but to be honored now is surprising and an honor.'
The Japanese researcher said he had no elaborate celebration plans. 'When I get home I'll take a bath and then go to bed. That's about it.'
The Nobel Prize ceremony will take place on December 10th in Stockholm, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, where the laureates will receive their medals and share the 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million) prize.