Nobel Prize in physics awarded to Francis Halzen for neutrino discovery
Version 5: New coverage adds a tech outlet and a second Boston Globe report, which say Halzen led development of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and that neutrinos offer clues about how the universe and galaxies develop; no previously reported fact was disputed.
In short
The 2026 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Francis Halzen for his work on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in Stockholm. Halzen is 82, was born in Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The physics prize is the second of this year’s six Nobel awards and carries 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million.
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The 2026 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Francis Halzen, The Boston Globe, Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, UPI and Ars Technica reported. CNN quoted the citation as recognising his “decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin,” while The New York Times reported the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited “the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.” The Boston Globe said the academy announced the award in Stockholm. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
The Boston Globe reported that Halzen was born in Belgium, is 82 years old and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. NPR described him as an 82-year-old scientist originally from Belgium, affiliated with the same university, and said his research into capturing neutrinos at the South Pole dates back to the 1980s. UPI described him as a Belgian-American physics professor at the University of Wisconsin. The New York Times noted the physics prize is the second of six Nobel Prizes awarded this year. [ 4 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
On the work itself, The Wall Street Journal said the Belgian particle physicist helped build an observatory deep in the Antarctic ice, and Ars Technica said he led development of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. In a later report, The Boston Globe said Halzen’s work centres on neutrinos, described as tiny cosmic particles that scientists say offer clues about how the universe and galaxies develop. [ 9 , 12 , 13 ]
Several outlets published previews before the result. The Associated Press said the prize would be announced Tuesday by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, and the same report was carried by The Seattle Times and NBC News. PBS NewsHour said live coverage of the announcement was expected to begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The Associated Press said the prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million, whether for an individual, a small group of laureates or an organization; The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times and NBC News carried the same figure. The Associated Press said this year’s announcements began Monday with the medicine prize, awarded to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works, and that the chemistry prize follows Wednesday, literature on Thursday and the peace prize on Friday. The Associated Press, The Seattle Times and NBC News put the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Oct. 12; The Boston Globe said only that it comes on Monday. Last year, three scientists won the physics prize for research on the strange behavior of subatomic particles called quantum tunneling, the Associated Press said, work it said enabled the ultra-sensitive measurements achieved by MRI machines and laid the groundwork for better cellphones and faster computers. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The physics prize is one of the year’s most closely followed science awards, and this year it recognises work on detecting cosmic neutrinos, a field the documents link to an observatory built deep in Antarctic ice. The award goes to a researcher affiliated with a US university, keeping attention on US-based particle astrophysics. The documents do not describe practical applications of the work.
Key facts
- Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics, according to The Boston Globe, Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, UPI and Ars Technica. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award in Stockholm. [ 4 , 8 ]
- CNN quoted the citation as recognising Halzen’s “decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.” [ 7 ]
- The New York Times reported the academy cited “the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.” [ 8 ]
- Halzen is 82 years old, was born in Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. [ 4 , 10 ]
- The Wall Street Journal said the Belgian particle physicist helped build an observatory deep in the Antarctic ice, and Ars Technica said he led development of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. [ 9 , 12 ]
- NPR said his research into capturing neutrinos at the South Pole dates back to the 1980s. [ 10 ]
- The prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million, whether for an individual, a small group of laureates or an organization. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the physics prize in Stockholm. [ 4 , 8 ]
- The award recognised the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Halzen is 82 years old, was born in Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. [ 4 , 10 ]
- The prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- This year’s Nobel announcements began Monday with the medicine prize. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The exact time the physics prize was announced. The documents give no announcement time; PBS NewsHour, in a preview published the day before, said live coverage was expected to begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
- Whether the prize was shared with other laureates. The result reports name only Halzen, while the preview reports say the prize money can go to an individual, a small group of laureates or an organization.
- Halzen’s exact role in the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. CNN quotes the citation as citing his “decisive contributions,” while Ars Technica, in a summary, says he led development of the observatory; no document gives further detail.
- The date of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences announcement. The Associated Press, The Seattle Times and NBC News gave the date as Oct. 12, while The Boston Globe said only that it comes on Monday.
- Why The Boston Globe carried the result at 03:07 local time, before the other outlets that reported the winner from 05:52 onward. The documents do not explain the difference in publication times between outlets reporting the same result.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- PBS NewsHour publishes a preview saying live coverage of the physics prize announcement is expected to begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports the Nobel Prize in physics will be announced Tuesday by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. [ 2 ]
- The Seattle Times carries the AP report on the scheduled announcement. [ 3 ]
- The Boston Globe reports that Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in physics for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. [ 4 ]
- NBC News publishes a preview of the physics prize announcement. [ 5 ]
- Live coverage of the announcement is expected to begin, according to the PBS NewsHour preview. [ 1 ]
- Reuters publishes a headline reporting that Francis Halzen wins the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. [ 6 ]
- CNN and The New York Times report the award to Halzen, with CNN quoting the citation. [ 7 , 8 ]
- The Wall Street Journal reports the award, saying the Belgian particle physicist helped build an observatory deep in the Antarctic ice. [ 9 ]
- NPR reports Halzen won for work on high-energy neutrinos from space, noting his South Pole research dates back to the 1980s. [ 10 ]
- UPI reports that a Belgian-American physics professor at the University of Wisconsin won the Nobel Prize in physics for his work studying neutrinos. [ 11 ]
- Ars Technica reports that Halzen led development of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. [ 12 ]
- The Boston Globe publishes a second report describing Halzen as a scientist who hunts ghost particles in the Antarctic ice and saying his work centres on neutrinos. [ 13 ]