This year's Nobel Prize in Physics goes to the Belgian-American particle researcher Francis Halzen for crucial contributions to the "IceCube" neutrino observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. This was announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
Halzen therefore realized that the ice at the South Pole could be used to track particles known as neutrinos. His vision and scientific leadership were fundamental to “IceCube” – a cubic kilometer of ice equipped with sensors. With the observatory, researchers can detect neutrinos from extremely high-energy processes in the distant universe.
Neutrinos - also called ghost particles - are among the most mysterious elementary particles. They have no electrical charge and almost no mass and react only very weakly with normal matter. Therefore, detection is extremely difficult. A neutrino is a ghostly messenger from space, said Nobel Physics Committee Chairman Mark Pearce.
On average, ten billion neutrinos hit every square centimeter of the Earth's surface every second. At least some of these are supposed to be detected by large detector systems such as “IceCube” in the Antarctic ice.
Researcher contains the equivalent of one million euros
This year, the most prestigious award for physicists is worth a total of twelve million Swedish crowns, the equivalent of around one million euros.
The Nobel Foundation recently increased the prize money to twelve million crowns. “This year we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. On this occasion, we are pleased to be able to increase the prize money by one million," said the Nobel Foundation's managing director, Hanna Stjärne, in September. “With the increase, we are strengthening the long-term significance of the Nobel Prize and ensuring that the financial part of the prize retains its value over the long term.” The amount has been adjusted several times since it was first awarded in 1901.
Announced for the first time by a woman
In the 125th year, there is another special feature: for the first time in the foundation's history, the names of the Nobel Prize winners for physics, chemistry and economics will be announced by a woman. At the start of 2026, Belgian-born Ellen Moons took up her post as the new Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) in Stockholm, which announces the Nobel Prizes in the three prize categories every year. She is the first woman to hold this position since the academy was founded in 1739.
Last year, the Nobel Prize in Physics went to the quantum researchers John Clarke (Great Britain), Michel Devoret (France) and John Martinis (USA). They had laid a foundation for the development of the next generation of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers and quantum sensors.
Since the prize was first awarded in 1901, 229 different Nobel Prize winners in physics have been chosen, including only five women. One scientist, the American John Bardeen, received it twice. The first winner was the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who received the award in 1901 for the discovery of the X-rays named after him.
Nobel Prize in Medicine for two Germans
On Monday, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to two German and one American researchers. Peter Hegemann (71) from the Humboldt University of Berlin, Georg Nagel (73) from the University of Würzburg and the US researcher Karl Deisseroth (54) are being honored for their discoveries in the field of optogenetics. Optogenetics is a method that allows cells to be precisely switched on and off using light. This could be used, for example, to show how nerve cells in the living brain shape memories, feelings and behavior, it was said.
It will be announced on Wednesday who will receive this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The announcements for the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Nobel Peace Prize will follow on Thursday and Friday. The series ends next Monday with the Nobel Prize in Economics sponsored by the Swedish Reichsbank.
The ceremonial presentation of the awards traditionally takes place on December 10th, the anniversary of the death of the prize founder Alfred Nobel. This year's winners of the Right Livelihood Award, commonly referred to as the Alternative Nobel Prize, were announced in Stockholm on September 30th.
