Nobel medicine prize goes to 3 scientists for research into brain activity

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to scientists Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel. Their recognized research focuses on brain activity, specifically the development of optogenetics. This innovative method utilizes light-gated ion channels to switch nerve cells on and off using light. The announcement was made on Monday by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, honoring the contributions of the researchers, including Deisseroth from Stanford University.