Born on October 10, 1936 in Bad Cannstadt, Ertl has received numerous honours and awards throughout his career, and is a member of several scientific academies.
"I was speechless at first when I got the news from Stockholm," Ertl told AFP. "Mainly I feel proud." He said the honour was a once-in-a-lifetime birthday present.
"I can't say I expected the prize but I knew I was on the list of candidates," he said.
Ertl is the second German to win a Nobel prize this year. Yesterday, Peter Gruenberg shared the phyics prize with Albert Fert of France for a discovery that led t the miniaturised hard disk.
Epaper
Newsletter
Stocks
Weather
Horoscope
