Belgian-American particle physicist Halzen wins Nobel Prize in Physics

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Halzen currently works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States. For many years, he has served as the chief researcher of the IceCube neutrino observatory in Antarctica.

Halzen discovered that Antarctic ice can be used to track neutrinos, which can penetrate the earth and the human body without leaving a trace. They rarely interact with matter and are often called "ghost particles." The IceCube observatory collects data on neutrino interactions, providing researchers with information about how high-energy neutrinos are produced, and may even reveal previously unknown cosmic phenomena.

Eva Olsson of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said at a press conference announcing the winners, "These 'messengers' bring information from the universe. They open the door to distant galaxies and reveal to us the process of star explosions."

Mark Pearce, chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee in Physics, said in a statement: "Francis Halzen led an international team of researchers and engineers and gave us an extraordinary tool. His tenacity and scientific vision paved the way for a new kind of astronomy."

According to Reuters, in 2014, the American Smithsonian magazine called Halzen "Mr. Neutrino" when it awarded the "Ingenuity Awards" and praised his "amazing experiments that opened a new era of astronomy." The magazine even published a cartoon about his life titled "A physicist's exploration of the universe begins at the South Pole."

The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, with a total prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$1.2 million). This is the second Nobel Prize announced this year, following the announcement of the Physiology and Medicine Prize on Monday. The chemistry prize winner will be announced on Wednesday.