Stockholm:The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen, a Belgian physicist, for his groundbreaking work with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of astrophysical high-energy neutrinos.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Halzen for his "decisive contributions" to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which is crucial in detecting high-energy neutrinos originating from astrophysical sources.

Halzen's innovative idea to use the ice at the South Pole for neutrino detection was integral to the development of the IceCube Observatory, a cubic kilometer of ice equipped with light sensors. This facility allows researchers to detect neutrinos produced by extremely energetic processes occurring in the distant universe.

High-energy neutrinos are unique as they can travel vast distances without altering their trajectory or losing significant energy. This property enables scientists to explore and gain insights into the universe that are otherwise unobtainable through other observational methods.

Born in Belgium in 1944, Halzen currently serves as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States.