High-energy neutrino detection captures Nobel prize in physics

The 2026 Nobel prize in physics has been awarded to Belgian astrophysicist Francis Halzen for his work on the detection of high-energy cosmic neutrinos that launched a new era of astronomy. Halzen spearheaded the development of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, which has enabled scientists to track high-energy neutrinos that have reached Earth from the farthest reaches of the universe. It is the first time that the physics prize has been awarded to an individual recipient since 1992, when Georges Charpak was recognised for his work on particle detectors.