The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on Monday, October 5, in Stockholm. The award-giving body announced that three scientists won the prize for their work investigating the mysteries of the brain.
The recipients are Karl Deisseroth of both the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg.
The trio was recognized for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. They will share a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor, which is approximately $1.2 million.