>[!abstract] >**Nobel disease** or **Nobelitis** is an informal term for the embrace of strange or scientifically unsound ideas by some Nobel Prize winners, usually later in life. It has been argued that the effect results, in part, from a tendency for Nobel winners to feel empowered by the award to speak on topics outside their specific area of expertise, although it is unknown whether Nobel Prize winners are more prone to this tendency than other individuals (adapted from Wikipedia). >[!note] >I wonder if the [[Matthew effect]] might be partly causal to this putative disease: scientists who have grown a strong self-assurance ([[guru complex]]) might be more prone to making outlandish claims. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): — >- **East** (different): — >- **South** (downstream): —