Nobel Prize in Physics goes to Francis Halzen for discovering neutrinos, described as 'ghost-like messages from space'

On Tuesday, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences bestowed the Nobel Prize in Physics upon Francis Halzen. The prestigious honor was bestowed for his "decisive contributions to the IceCube neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin," according to the academy. The committee referred to neutrinos as "ghostly messages from space."

This marks the second Nobel announcement of the week, following the medicine prize awarded to three scientists on the previous day. This year's prize money totals 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately $1.2 million or €1 million. The physics prize has been awarded 119 times to 230 laureates since its inception in 1901.

Last year, the prize was awarded to three scientists for their work on quantum tunneling, which facilitated the development of MRI machines and contributed to advancements in cellphone technology and computer speed.