I imagine any given year there are more people who think they or someone they know deserve a Nobel (rightfully or not), than actually get one. I'd guess the controversy is not unusual, but in some years might make the news more than in others.

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Todd (Bowie, MD, US, North America, Earth, Sol System, Vega region, Local Bubble, Orion arm, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo A Cluster, Virgo supercluster, the universe in which spock is clean shaven)

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

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