Wins Nobel Prize, makes school sandwiches: Scientist Karl Deisseroth shares moment with children

Stanford University professor Karl Deisseroth's life took a remarkable turn when he shared an emotional moment with his children, revealing he had won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Nobel-winning scientist, who made groundbreaking discoveries in optogenetics, woke his daughters on Monday morning to break the news.

A video released by Stanford University captured the girls' ecstatic reactions, breaking into screams of delight before hugging their father. Deisseroth later called his 16-year-old son Hudson to inform him about the prestigious award. Hudson was visibly stunned, hugging his father and celebrating with high-fives. His eldest son, Alexander, 18, who was already at Stanford, learned of the news via a message from his mother and promptly cycled home to join the family celebration.

The Stanford University handle shared the video, describing the family's emotional response as a "sweet moment" showcasing a regular family with a Nobel Prize winner. The video quickly gained traction on social media, with users expressing their admiration for the touching family moment, praising the scientific community for its dedication to humanity and the beauty of scientific research.

Deisseroth was recognized alongside German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, who shared the award for their discoveries that enabled optogenetics, a technique that employs light to control specific nerve cells. Despite the extraordinary news, Deisseroth continued with his typical Monday morning routine, preparing sandwiches for his children and packing their school lunches.