{
  "id": 12134785,
  "title": "German, US scientists win Nobel prize for optogenetics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/german-us-scientists-win-nobel-prize-for-optogenetics",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-05T11:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2026/1005/1594036-german-us-scientists-nobel-prize/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "American scientist Karl Deisseroth, along with German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The prestigious honor was bestowed upon the trio for their groundbreaking work on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, which has significantly enhanced our understanding of the brain's functions. The Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute announced that these scientists were selected for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Optogenetics, a technique that enables the precise control of individual nerve cells in a living brain, has become a valuable tool for researchers worldwide. This method has already been employed in clinical trials to restore vision in people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa by introducing light-sensitive proteins into the retina. Additionally, researchers believe that optogenetics could enhance cochlear implants, providing more targeted stimulation of the auditory nerve compared to existing electrical devices. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is the first award in the annual Nobel announcements, which also includes prizes in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics. The prize sum of 12 million Swedish crowns (€1.06 million) will be shared equally by Deisseroth, Hegemann, and Nagel. The laureates, who have been surprised and delighted by the recognition, expressed their delight at sharing the award with their peers.",
  "summary": "American Karl Deisseroth and Germans Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries on light and optogenetics that have helped understand how the brain works.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nature",
        "title": "Medicine Nobel awarded for brain ‘switch’ that controls neurons with light: live updates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medicine-nobel-awarded-for-brain-switch-that-controls-neurons-with",
        "published": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Scientists win Nobel Prize in medicine for work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/scientists-win-nobel-prize-in-medicine-for-work-on-light-gated-ion",
        "published": "2026-10-05T09:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Scientists who revealed how brain shapes memories win Nobel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/scientists-who-revealed-how-brain-shapes-memories-win-nobel",
        "published": "2026-10-05T09:51:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Nobel medicine prize awarded to scientists for brain activity research",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/nobel-medicine-prize-awarded-to-scientists-for-brain-activity-research",
        "published": "2026-10-05T10:34:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}