Coward with a black heart is a man of science (5)

I believe the answer is:

nobel

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'heart is a man of science' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'coward with a black' is the wordplay.
'coward' becomes 'noel' (playwright Noel Coward).
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'a black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'noel' enclosing 'b' is 'NOBEL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nobel that I've seen before include "Swedish prize" , "Prize title" , "Swedish philanthropist and inventor of dynamite" , "Alfred --, international prize founder" , "and 21 Across: Prestigious international award" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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