Not me, but my workplace. We're up to three now.

For quite awhile, my father-in-law has been writing books about biomedical-oriented Nobel Prize winning research in Chemistry and Medicine and the scientists who won. The book on chemistry prize winners is at the publisher, and my father-in-law has been somewhat distressed that he might have to write another chapter quickly for this year's winner(s). All that made me think that there is a guy where I work who is sure to win the physics prize someday. Despite his relative youth, I thought "why not this year?"

Sure enough, Tuesday morning we got the exciting news that he, Adam Riess, shares this year's physics prize with two others. They led two competing groups that discovered that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.

I work at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) as a software systems engineer, in a role that involves regular interaction with many of the local scientists, including Adam. I've helped him with some work details in the past, and have had limited social interaction surrounding a common interest. Currently, I'm working on adding a new observing capability for the Hubble Space Telescope, one that Adam plans to use in a nicely imaginative way. So I was happy to congratulate him personally via email, and later with a handshake at a reception held in his honor.

As some of you know, there was an article about Nobel Prize medals several months ago in The Numismatist. They aren't the sort of thing one expects to be able to collect. I'm hoping Adam will bring his medal (to be received in December) to work so we can all see it up close. I'll let you know...

But before I can do that, there are coin shows to attend! I'm planning on going to the ANA in Pittsburgh next week, and of course the Baltimore show next month. I have my eyes on a few things, and I'll let you know if I get my hands on them too...

Until then, happy collecting to all!