Three American pioneers of quantum mechanics receive the Nobel Prize

Three US scientists—John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis—were awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of macroscopic quantum tunneling and the quantization of energy in an electrical circuit.

Their work laid the foundations for modern quantum technology, which has enabled the development of quantum computers, cryptography, and sensors, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The laureates will share a prize of around one million euros. The award underscores the central importance of physics to scientific progress—it is the first category specified in Alfred Nobel's will.

The trio of researchers' discovery showed that quantum effects such as tunneling can also be realized in macroscopic systems, not just at the level of atoms and particles. This breakthrough paved the way for the practical application of quantum mechanics in the technologies of the future.

Last year, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in the field of machine learning. This year's award once again confirms the trend that the Nobel Prize reflects the key fields of modern science – from artificial intelligence to quantum computers.
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday.

(reuters, max)