NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE 2026 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel Three scientists who opened up optogenetics, switching brain cells on and off with a beam of light. What did the three win the Nobel Prize for? They share the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. The prize at a glance Laureate Nationality Affiliation Key contribution Karl Deisseroth USA Stanford University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Developed optogenetics, controlling neurons with light using channelrhodopsin Peter Hegemann Germany Humboldt University of Berlin Discovered channelrhodopsin, the light-sensing protein of green algae Georg Nagel Germany University of Würzburg Showed that channelrhodopsin is an ion channel opened by light Prize motivation For their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics Announced October 5, 2026, Nobel...

NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2026 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai Two chemists who showed how to make just one of a molecule's two mirror images. What did they win the Nobel Prize for? They share the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. The prize at a glance Henri B. Kagan Kenso Soai Nationality France Japan Age 95 76 Affiliation Université Paris-Sud Tokyo University of Science Key discovery Nonlinear effect (1986) Asymmetric autocatalysis, the Soai reaction (1995) Prize motivation For the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis Announced October 7, 2026, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Prize amount SEK 12 million, shared equally An illustration symbolizing mirror-image molecules. Molecules that cannot be superimposed, like left and right hands A chiral molecule is one whose mirror image cannot be superimposed on it,...

NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2026 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics: Francis Halzen The physicist who turned a cubic kilometer of Antarctic ice into a telescope and found high-energy neutrinos from space. What did Francis Halzen win the Nobel Prize for? He received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics alone for the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The instrument that made it possible is the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. The prize at a glance Laureate Francis Halzen Nationality Belgian, born 1944 in Tienen, Belgium Affiliation Professor of physics, University of Wisconsin–Madison; principal investigator of IceCube Prize motivation For the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin Announced October 6, 2026, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Prize amount SEK 12 million (sole laureate) An illustration of the IceCube lab at the South Pole. Neutrinos: ghost particles crossing the universe Neutrinos carry no electric charge and have...