Belgian physicist Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in Physics

Belgian American physicist Francis Halzen has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of highenergy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The Nobel committee announced the award on Tuesday in Stockholm, noting that Halzen’s work helped advance the use of Antarctic ice to detect neutrinos, tiny particles that rarely interact with matter. The IceCube observatory at the South Pole became operational in 2011 after years of development. Researchers say it has opened a new way to study the universe by tracing particles that can carry information from distant cosmic events. Halzen, who has long been affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said he was surprised and delighted by the news. The Nobel Prize in Physics includes a shared award of 12 million Swedish crowns.