Nobel Week 2026, held from 5 to 12 October, has concluded. Six prizes — six ways to look at the world anew: from the hidden mechanisms of the brain to the farthest reaches of the universe. Behind each award are people whose ideas change our understanding of familiar things and open unexpected horizons. Let’s see which discoveries in medicine, physics and chemistry were in the spotlight this year.
In medicine, Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel were recognized for discoveries that made it possible to control the activity of nerve cells with light. Imagine: a light pulse becomes a tool for studying the brain.
In physics, Francis Halzen received the prize for his contribution to the creation of the IceCube observatory and the detection of high-energy neutrinos from space — elusive particles carrying messages from the depths of the universe.
In chemistry, Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai were recognized for research that helps direct reactions so that molecules of the desired mirror-image form can be obtained. This is important for creating medicines and other substances where even a tiny difference in structure can matter enormously.
