When the policy decision has been made by the Nobel Assembly, already in February, it is up to the extended Nobel Committee (16 persons) to choose from the short list of candidates. At this stage the most important factor is the number and status of the scientists who support a particular nominee. A nominee with many or weighty supporters will probably be the finally selected one. And it is here that Jewish scientists can and do use of their talent for networking (with other Jews) and their exceptional verbal intelligence. We might not be able to see a full explanation for the J-bias in higher Jewish IQ or preferential selection of intellectual carriers by Jews. The probable remaining explanation is the stronger advocacy behind Jewish than behind Gentile scientists. The somewhat higher IQ, the somewhat preferential selection of intellectual jobs and the strong and effective Jewish networking together add up to the 26-fold J-bias. It is readily understandable that there are 26 times more “mentors” (mostly other Jews) behind every successful Jewish scientist than behind a successful Gentile scientist in the USA.
