2026 Nobel Prize in Physics announced, Belgian physicist Halzen wins the award
In recognition of his decisive contribution to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos, he received a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor.
Quick Look
- The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics will be won by Belgian particle physicist Halzen in recognition of his contribution to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos originating from astrophysical processes.
- He will receive a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor.
- The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on December 10.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
On the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Nobel Prize, this year's physics prize winner Halzen won the award for his contribution to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.
Following the announcement of the winner of the Biomedicine Prize yesterday (5th), the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics was announced today (6th), and the Belgian particle physicist Francis Halzen won the award. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the creation of the Nobel Prize. The prize money for each award has been specially increased (from 2023 to 2025, it was 11 million Swedish kronor, and earlier it fell from 8 million to 10 million Swedish kronor). Harzen will receive 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately NT$37.78 million). The award ceremony is scheduled to be grandly held on December 10 this year (the anniversary of Nobel’s death), and the current Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf will personally present the award.
Halzen was born in Belgium in 1944. He is currently the "Hilldale and Gregory Breit Professor" (the school's highest honorary teaching title) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is also the director of the Institute for Elementary Particle Physics.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences pointed out that this year's Physics Prize was awarded to Professor Halzen in recognition of his decisive contribution to the "IceCube Neutrino Observatory" (A neutrino observatory in Antarctica) and the discovery of "astrophysical processes". Processes, a scientific mechanism that uses physical principles to explain various celestial bodies and phenomena in the universe) high-energy neutrinos (energy can reach tens of trillions of electron volts, and is one of the most energetic subatomic particles in the known universe).
The Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded last year by three physicists teaching in the United States: John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis. Through carefully designed superconducting circuit experiments, they observed "macroscopic quantum tunneling" and "energy quantization" for the first time in a handheld-sized system, solving a long-standing mystery in the scientific community and laying a key foundation for the future application of quantum technology.
The Nobel Prize is awarded to the Swedish chemist Alfred. Alfred Nobel's will used most of his inheritance to establish a fund and use interest as bonuses. In 1901, the International Prize was awarded annually. At the beginning, there were only five awards in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. The Economics Award was added by the Swedish Central Bank in 1968 and awarded for the first time in 1969.
According to the official announcement, after the physics prize is announced, the chemistry prize will be announced at 5:45 pm on the 7th, Taiwan time, the literature prize will be announced at 7 pm on the 8th, the peace prize will be announced at 5 pm on the 9th, and the economics prize will be announced at 5:45 pm on the 12th.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Chemistry Award will be announced at 5:45 pm on the 7th, Taiwan time
Very likely · Within hours
Open Questions
- Who will receive the other Nobel Prizes in the future?
