Nobel Disease: When Geniuses Believe Weird Things
The Nobel Prize can inflate winners' confidence beyond their expertise, leading some to embrace pseudoscience or fringe ideas. This phenomenon, known as Nobel disease, is explored through examples like Linus Pauling's vitamin C megadoses, Kary Mullis's HIV denialism, and Luc Montagnier's water memory claims. Experts warn that the award's authority can corrupt judgment, as Nobel laureate Paul Nurse noted.
I myself have been asked my opinion on everything from a cure for the common cold to the market value of a letter signed by John F. Kennedy. Needless to say the attention [from receiving a Nobel prize] is flattering, but also corrupting.