Francis Halzen wins 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for IceCube neutrino observatory

UPDATE - follow-up to Belgium's Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin: Francis Halzen has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos coming from deep space.

Prize Details And Context

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award in Stockholm on Tuesday. Halzen is a particle physicist and a professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, United States. He will receive a share of a prize total of 12 million Swedish crowns, which equals about $1.2 million. Last year's physics prize went to US scientists John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their work on quantum physics experiments.

How IceCube Works

Halzen conceived the idea to use the ice at the South Pole to track elusive particles known as neutrinos, presenting his vision in 1988. When a neutrino hits an atomic nucleus, it makes a flash of light. Sensors placed deep within the glacial ice track these flashes. Mark Pearce, who chairs the Nobel Committee for Physics, praised Halzen for leading an international team and praised his vision for opening up a new type of astronomy.

Context

Neutrinos are tiny subatomic particles that travel across the universe almost undisturbed by matter, making them useful for studying distant cosmic events. Observatories buried deep underground or inside thick ice sheets help scientists catch rare signals from these particles without interference from surface light.