Retractions by Nobel Prize winners

In 2017, our co-founders wrote an intentionally ridiculous column in Slate: “Want to Win a Nobel Prize? Retract a Paper.” But Nobel Prize winners have indeed retracted papers — some before and some after their awards. Here’s our list.

1. Gregg Semenza (13): 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  See coverage.
2. David Baltimore (3): 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See coverage.
3. Linda B Buck (3): 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  See coverage.
4. Max Planck (2): 1918 Nobel Prize in Physics.
5. Thomas Südhof  (2): 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See coverage.
6. Jack W Szostak (2): 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  See coverage.
7. Isamu Akasaki (1): 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics.
8. Zhores Alferov (1): 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics.
9. Harvey J Alter (1): 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See coverage.
10. Frances H Arnold (1): 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. See coverage.
11. Carolyn R Bertozzi (1): 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. See coverage.
12. Bruce A Beutler (1): 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  See coverage.
13. Ben L Feringa (1): 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
14. Tasuku Honjo (1): 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
15. Robert J Lefkowitz (1): 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
16. Michael Rosbash (1): 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See coverage.
17. Bert Sakmann (1): 1991 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
18. J Fraser Stoddart (1): 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
19. Harold E Varmus (1): 1989 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
20. Shinya Yamanaka (1): 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See coverage.
21. Michael W Young (1): 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
22. Rolf M Zinkernagel (1): 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Notes:

Georg Wittig, who shared the 1979 Nobel in Chemistry, wrote a letter to “retract” some of his findings.

Shinya Yamanaka, who shared the 2012 prize in physiology or medicine, has one retraction, but also said he would take responsibility after someone in his lab committed serious misconduct.

And: Willibrord Weijmar Schultz has 6 retractions and won the Ig Nobel award.

_{updated 1/24/2025}