Belgian-born physicist Prof Francis Halzen has been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his pioneering work on an observatory that detects elusive neutrinos arriving from space.
Key facts
- Prof Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in physics.
- He is recognised for work on an observatory detecting high-energy neutrinos from space.
- Halzen, 82, is originally from Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
- His research into capturing neutrinos at the South Pole dates back to the 1980s.
Belgian physicist Prof Francis Halzen has won the Nobel Prize in physics for his pioneering work on an observatory that detects particles arriving from space, the BBC reported.
The particles at the centre of his research are neutrinos, sometimes called ‘ghost particles’ because they are notoriously difficult to detect. Halzen’s work focused on capturing high-energy neutrinos originating from space.
According to NPR, the 82-year-old scientist is originally from Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research into capturing neutrinos dates back to the 1980s.
That research was carried out at the South Pole, where Halzen worked on building an observatory capable of detecting the particles. The recognition caps decades of effort that began more than four decades ago.
The award highlights a field of physics dedicated to observing some of the universe’s most elusive particles, the detection of which required sustained scientific commitment over many years.
Why it matters
Neutrinos are among the hardest particles in the universe to detect, and capturing them opens a new way of observing cosmic events. Honouring this work with the Nobel Prize underscores the value of long-term, patient scientific research that can span decades before yielding results.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics?
Belgian-born physicist Prof Francis Halzen, who is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, won the prize for his work on detecting high-energy neutrinos from space.
What are 'ghost particles'?
The term refers to neutrinos, the particles at the centre of Halzen's research, which arrive from space and are the focus of the observatory he helped pioneer.
Where was the research conducted?
According to NPR, Halzen's research into capturing neutrinos took place at the South Pole and dates back to the 1980s.