Belgian who discovered smallest particle in the universe receives Nobel Prize for Physics
The physicist was recognized for his decisive contributions to the IceCube neutrino observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos.
Quick Look
Belgian physicist Francis Halzen, professor at the University of Wisconsin, won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work at the IceCube neutrino observatory, located in Antarctica, which made it possible to detect high-energy neutrinos of cosmic origin.
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Why It Matters
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory uses Antarctic ice to capture neutrinos, rare subatomic particles that provide information about distant cosmic processes.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded this Tuesday (6) to Belgian Francis Halzen. The physicist was distinguished "for his decisive contributions to the IceCube neutrino observatory and to the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin", explained the Nobel Committee, meeting in Stockholm.
"In the 1980s, Francis Halzen realized that Antarctic ice might be ideal for capturing sufficient quantities of these elusive neutrinos so that researchers could learn more about their origins," the committee reported.
Neutrinos are subatomic particles known as "ghost particles" because of the way they pass through matter without leaving a trace and interact with matter only in extremely rare cases.
Halzen is a professor at the University of Wisconsin, in the United States. "It's a big surprise, I wasn't expecting it," reacted the 82-year-old laureate when contacted by the Nobel Foundation.
Eva Olsson, a member of the committee, stated that "this Nobel Prize concerns a gigantic ice cube located at the South Pole of our planet." The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is located in the heart of Antarctica.
“Neutrinos bring information from the cosmos,” he added at a press conference. "They open the door to distant galaxies and tell us about star-exploding processes."
Neutrino interactions recorded by the IceCube observatory provide researchers with knowledge about how these high-energy particles are created, and may even reveal previously unknown cosmic phenomena.
The chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics said in a statement that "Francis Halzen led an international team of researchers and engineers who provided us with a fantastic instrument."
"His tenacity and scientific vision paved the way for a new type of astronomy," he added.
Still in 2014, the North American magazine Smithsonian dubbed Halzen the Neutrino Man when awarding him one of its awards, praising him for an "astonishing experiment that heralds the beginning of a new era in astronomy".
Open Questions
- What new cosmic phenomena will be discovered with IceCube?
