Scientist Who Hunted Ghost Particles in Antarctic Ice Wins Nobel Prize in Physics

Francis Halzen, an 82-year-old scientist who transformed masses of ice in Antarctica into a gigantic detector to investigate rare cosmic particles holding the secrets of the universe, has won this year's Nobel Prize in Physics.

Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics

Belgian-born scientist Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday thanks to his efforts to shed light on rare neutrinos containing clues about how the universe evolved.

The Idea of a Detector in Antarctic Ice

The 82-year-old physicist, who works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, came up with the idea of turning the massive Antarctic ice into a detector.

Halzen stated that he had been considered among the favorites for the prize since publishing his first paper on cosmic neutrinos in 2013.

IceCube Neutrino Observatory

The research pioneered by Halzen played a key role in the construction of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory established in Antarctica.

Thanks to this observatory, the first high-energy neutrinos coming from distant galaxies were detected, yielding important data about the depths of space.

The Mystery of Neutrinos

Neutrinos, which have no electrical charge and an extremely small mass, are known as tiny cosmic particles that are extremely difficult to detect.

Scientists state that these mysterious particles carry important clues regarding the development of other galaxies and the universe in general.

Announcement and Amount of the Prize

Ellen Moons, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, announced the winner during a statement made in Stockholm.

As part of this year's Nobel Prize, recipients will be awarded a monetary prize of 12 million Swedish kronor, which is approximately $1.2 million.