The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded on Tuesday to Arthur Ashkin of the United States, and to Gérard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada.
Why did they win?
The Nobel committee recognized the scientists for their work in using light to make miniature tools. Dr. Ashkin invented “optical tweezers,” which use pressure from a highly focused beam to allow researchers to manipulate microscopic objects and living organisms. Dr. Strickland and Dr. Mourou developed a method of generating high-intensity, ultrashort light pulses.
Who won the 2017 Physics Nobel?
Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne and Barry Barish were recognized for the detection of ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves, which were predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago but had never been directly seen. The Royal Swedish Academy called it “a discovery that shook the world.”
Who else has won a Nobel this year?
James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday, for a discovery that the body’s immune system can be used to attack cancer cells.
