Science · Stockholm, Sweden · October 6, 2026

Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for optogenetics

Reported by 1 outlet · under-reported · first reported Oct 4, 8:00 PM ET

Karl Deisseroth of Stanford, Peter Hegemann of Humboldt University and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg jointly won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.

Why it matters

Optogenetics lets scientists control neurons with light, transforming research into the brain and neurological disease.

Background

Optogenetics uses light-sensitive proteins from algae, called channelrhodopsins, inserted into nerve cells. The technique was developed in the 2000s and is now widely used in neuroscience labs.

The story so far

1. Oct 6Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for optogenetics
2. Oct 7Kagan and Soai share Nobel Prize in Chemistry
3. Oct 8Kagan and Soai win Nobel Prize in Chemistry
4. Oct 9Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
5. Oct 10Navi Pillay awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Follow the whole story →

Sources

• Reuters ↗October 5, 2026

This summary was written automatically from the reporting linked above; follow the sources for the full story. How One Turn works.

See it on the globe →All of Oct 6's stories