The Nobel winner searching for deep-space neutrinos in Antarctica

It’s Nobel Prize week, and this year's prize in physics (nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2026/press-release) went to Francis Halzen “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.” The IceCube (icecube.wisc.edu) is a massive neutrino detector that covers a cubic kilometer of Antarctic ice, and looks for high-energy neutrinos coming from deep space.
In 2013, Ira spoke with (sciencefriday.com/segments/the-nobel-winner-se…) physicist Francis Halzen about the decision to build the IceCube at the South Pole and the challenges of constructing a map of the cosmos with neutrinos.
Guest:
Dr. Francis Halzen is a professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the 2026 recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com/segments/the-nobel-winner-se….

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