The Nobel Prize for the blue LED invention recognizes achievements from decades prior, not recent innovations. The first working blue LEDs were developed in the early 1990s, and the prize reflects the culmination of over three decades of research. Nobel Prizes are typically awarded for discoveries made long before the actual award date, with some recipients waiting decades for recognition. This practice has evolved from earlier statutes that initially required more immediate acknowledgment. The discussion highlights the complexity and historical context behind the timing of Nobel awards in physics.