Francis Halzen Wins Nobel Prize In Physics

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Francis Halzen gained the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for his efforts to demystify a uncommon group of neutrinos, tiny cosmic particles that scientists imagine provide clues to how the universe advanced.

“It was an incredible shock and I clearly didn’t count on it,” Halzen mentioned, talking to the committee by cellphone from Italy, in a name broadcast on the information convention to announce the winner.

Halzen mentioned it was predicted earlier than that he would win the Nobel Prize however the announcement nonetheless made him really feel “unusual.”

“I’m engaged on a proposal and I hope profitable this can assist getting it accepted,” he mentioned to chuckles.

The Nobel Committee for Physics additionally cited Halzen’s work on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, the place he started researching the seize of neutrinos within the Nineteen Eighties.

“Francis Halzen has led an global group of researchers and engineers who’ve supplied us with a improbable instrument. His tenacity and scientific imaginative and prescient has paved the way in which for a brand new type of astronomy,” Mark Pearce, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, mentioned in a information launch.

Born in Belgium, the 82-year-old scientist is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison within the U.S, the lead establishment on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Efforts by The Associated Press to achieve him weren’t instantly profitable.

Neutrinos are tiny cosmic particles with a mind-bogglingly small mass. Yet they’re in all places: they spew from stars just like the solar and trillions zip by way of our our bodies each second.

Scientists can’t glimpse the mysterious ghost particles zooming round on their very own. Instead, they measure what occurs when the tiny particles collide with different bits of matter, producing flashes of sunshine or charged particles.

Halzen studied a uncommon gang of neutrinos that scientists think about messengers from the cosmos, providing clues to how the universe advanced.

A consultant from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory didn’t instantly return a request for remark. The University of Wisconsin–Madison didn’t instantly have a remark when reached by the AP.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences introduced the award in Stockholm.

The prize cash this yr is 12 million Swedish kronor (about $1.2 million), whether or not for a person, a small group of laureates or a corporation.

Last yr, three scientists gained the Nobel Prize in physics for analysis on the unusual conduct of subatomic particles known as quantum tunneling that enabled the ultrasensitive measurements achieved by MRI machines and laid the groundwork for higher cellphones and sooner computer systems.

The bulletins of this yr’s prizes started Monday with the Nobel Prize in medicine being awarded to three scientists whose work led to a software that makes use of mild to assist unravel how the mind works.

This week’s awards proceed Wednesday with the chemistry prize and literature on Thursday. After Friday’s peace prize is awarded, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will probably be introduced on Monday.

The prize cash this yr is 12 million Swedish kronor (about $1.2 million), whether or not for a person, a small group of laureates or a corporation.

Dazio reported from Berlin and Ramakrishnan reported from New York. Alexa St. John in Detroit contributed to this report.

AP Nobel Prizes: https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes