Belgian-American physicist Francis Halzen, aged 82, was named the recipient of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics in Stockholm on Tuesday. He was acknowledged for his significant contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the identification of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin, according to the awarding organization.
Halzen’s innovation was realizing the potential of using ice at the South Pole to track neutrinos, elusive particles that traverse through Earth and organisms without leaving a mark, interacting with matter exceptionally rarely. Eva Olsson from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences described these neutrinos as messengers from the universe, shedding light on distant galaxies and the phenomena of exploding stars.
Each year, the Nobel Physics Prize winners are chosen by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and receive a prize amounting to 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.7 million Cdn). The IceCube, covering a cubic kilometer, commenced operations in 2011 after years of planning dating back to the late 1980s, as highlighted by the academy.
Expressing his gratitude, Halzen, associated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison for many years, shared his surprise and delight at the prestigious recognition while attending a conference in Italy. In a previous accolade in 2014, the U.S.-based Smithsonian magazine dubbed him “Neutrino Man” when awarding him an Ingenuity Award.
Neutrinos, minuscule cosmic particles with incredibly small mass, are ubiquitous, emanating from celestial bodies like the sun, with trillions passing through our bodies every second. Scientists cannot directly observe these enigmatic particles but study their interactions with matter, producing light flashes or charged particles.
Halzen’s focus on a unique group of neutrinos, considered cosmic messengers, offers insights into the evolution of the universe. Mark Pearce, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, praised Halzen’s leadership in providing an exceptional scientific instrument that has revolutionized astronomy.
Plans for an extension to the observatory, IceCube-Gen2, covering eight cubic kilometers of ice and set to be operational by 2033, aim to enhance neutrino detection capabilities significantly. Halzen emphasized that the full impact of his work is yet to be revealed, underscoring the ongoing exploration of astronomy.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever lauded Halzen for his lifelong dedication to unraveling cosmic mysteries through the study of minute manifestations. Noteworthy is the 2015 recognition by the Swedish academy of the discovery of neutrino oscillations, with Canadian scientist Dr. Arthur McDonald sharing in the Nobel Physics Prize that year.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be announced on Wednesday, the literature prize on Thursday, and the peace prize on Friday, with the economics prize unveiling on October 12. Established by Alfred Nobel, the prizes honor those contributing the most to humanity, a legacy of the inventor of dynamite who was also a multilingual poet and playwright. The laureates receive their awards on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s passing.
