Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald receives Nobel Prize

In 1909 Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932) received the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work on catalysts that lower the activation energy necessary for chemical reactions. For Ostwald, however, energy was not only an object of study, but also the basis of his worldview. He even named his estate close to Leipzig Villa Energie. There he developed the philosophical doctrine of “energetics,” in which he postulated that energy was the base element of the cosmos. Ostwald believed scientific, social, and even cultural progress would be enabled by improved availability and more efficient application of energy. Thus his “energetic imperative”: “Do not squander energy—utilize it!”