Nobel in Physics for Francis Halzen, the hunter of the “ghost particles” of the universe

BarcelonaThe Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced this Tuesday that the winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics is the researcher from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States), Francis Halzen (1944, Belgium). Halzen has been awarded for his decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and for the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. For decades, Halzen has dedicated his career to pursuing neutrinos, nearly undetectable particles that pass through the entire Earth and also our bodies without us noticing.

The Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes fundamental discoveries and advances in the field of physics, from the study of the laws of the universe to the development of new technologies. In 2025, the award distinguished John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their experiments on macroscopic quantum tunneling and the quantization of energy in an electric circuit.

The prize is endowed with 12 million Swedish kronor in 2026, following the increase announced by the Nobel Foundation. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is responsible for selecting the laureates in this category.

The first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded in 1901 to the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, recognized for the discovery of X-rays. Since then, the award has distinguished researchers who have contributed to transforming the understanding of matter, energy, and the phenomena of the universe.