Nobel Medicine Prize 2026: How three scientists discovered a way to control brain cells with light

In 2026, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to three scientists for their groundbreaking work in optogenetics. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel discovered an algae protein that reacts to light and can be used as a switch to study the functions of nerve cells. This discovery has led to the creation of a new field of study known as optogenetics.

Optogenetics involves using light to control genetically modified cells, allowing scientists to precisely manipulate nerve cell activity and observe its effects on the brain. This has significantly advanced our understanding of how the brain forms memories, feelings, and behaviors. The researchers were able to control cells with light, essentially acting as a precision intervention in one organ and observing the effects on complex behaviors.