Catching Neutrinos in Antarctica: The Story Behind the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to University of Wisconsin–Madison Professor Francis Halzen for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. How can a telescope buried in Antarctic ice help us understand the universe? Dr. Lu Lu, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will introduce these elusive particles, explain how researchers detect them at the South Pole, and explore what they reveal about some of the universe's most powerful cosmic accelerators. Dr. Luwill also highlight Wisconsin's role in this international effort and look ahead to what comes next, including how artificial intelligence can help us make more discoveries.