Much of the bidding at Thursday's auction happened remotely, by telephone and internet - but Jack Wang was so determined to buy the Nobel Prize medal that he flew in from California, and was prepared to offer double what he ended up paying, reports the BBC's Barbara Plett from New York.

BBC: DNA pioneer Francis Crick's Nobel prize sells for $2.27m

"It removes the uncertainty that made it hard for our coaches and athletes, so we're very happy to resolve that for them, " athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a telephone interview.

NPR: Notre Dame To Join ACC Next Season