'Ghost particle' hunter Francis Halzen wins 2026 Nobel Physics Prize
STOCKHOLM: Belgian-American particle physicist Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for ground-breaking work creating an observatory to detect some of the universe’s most elusive particles, high-energy neutrinos, and how they are created. Halzen realised that ice at the South Pole could be used to track neutrinos, sometimes known as ‘ghost particles’ for the way they pass through…
Swiss-born Belgian-American physicist Francis Halzen has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. His groundbreaking work focused on creating an observatory to detect high-energy neutrinos, often referred to as "ghost particles" due to their ability to traverse the Earth and human bodies with minimal interaction.
Halzen's innovation was the realization that Antarctica's ice could serve as an ideal medium for tracking these elusive particles. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences commended Halzen for his tenacity and scientific vision, which led to the development of the IceCube observatory in Antarctica. This state-of-the-art facility allows researchers to gather crucial data on the origin and creation of high-energy neutrinos, potentially unveiling previously unknown cosmic phenomena.
The Nobel Committee hailed Halzen for his role in pioneering a new branch of astronomy, likening him to "Neutrino Man." The Nobel Prizes, established by the estate of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, are awarded annually in five categories: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. The physics prize, awarded to Halzen, is one of the most esteemed accolades in the scientific community.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
