* No specific requirement: There is no rule stating that a prize must be awarded every year.
* Quality over quantity: The Nobel Committee prioritizes awarding the prize to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to their respective fields. If no work is deemed worthy in a particular year, the prize is not awarded.
* Exceptions: The Peace Prize is the only Nobel Prize that is awarded every year, regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found.
Here are some years where no Nobel Prize was awarded in specific categories:
* 1940-1942: No Nobel Prizes were awarded in any category due to World War II.
* 1943: The Nobel Prize in Literature was not awarded, but it was awarded in 1944 to Johannes V. Jensen.
* 1944: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was not awarded, but it was awarded in 1945 to Fleming, Chain, and Florey.
While it's not guaranteed that a Nobel Prize will be awarded in any given year, it's a prestigious award that recognizes the most outstanding achievements in science, literature, peace, economics, and physics.