2026 science Nobel Prizes: Who are the winners, and is there a gender gap problem? | Password

In October, Euronews reporters Marta Iraola Iribarren and Pascale Davies covered the announcement of the 2026 Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine, physics, and chemistry. The recipients of each prize are outlined, with a focus on the fact that only men were awarded in the 2026 science categories.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. This research has implications for understanding brain processes and could lead to new medical treatments, including gene therapies for blindness.

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Francis Halzen for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. The IceCube project, which began in the 2000s, uses an ice block in Antarctica to detect nearly invisible particles from space.

For the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were recognized for their research on molecular mirror images and its applications in pharmaceutical development. The findings have practical uses, such as creating molecules that living organisms use exclusively.

The article raises the question of whether there is a gender gap issue in the 2026 Nobel Prizes. While the science awards seem to underrepresent women, Iraola acknowledges a broader underrepresentation of women in this field, which may explain the disparity. However, she remains optimistic about future changes as the gender gap in science has been slowly decreasing over recent decades.