Three U.S. scientists awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for quantum research

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their groundbreaking discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in electric circuits.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Tuesday in Stockholm that their pioneering research has laid the foundation for modern quantum computing and superconducting circuit technologies, opening new frontiers in both applied science and fundamental physics.

The laureates — affiliated with the University of California and Yale University — will share the 11 million Swedish kronor prize (approximately $1.2 million), which will be formally presented at a ceremony on 10 December.

According to the Nobel Committee, the trio’s work represents a major step forward in harnessing quantum phenomena at macroscopic scales, enabling the creation of highly sensitive electronic systems and accelerating the development of quantum technologies that could revolutionise computation and communication.

First awarded in 1901, the Nobel Prize in Physics celebrates scientific achievements that deepen humanity’s understanding of the physical universe.

This year’s laureates continue that tradition — demonstrating how the once-theoretical world of quantum mechanics is now shaping the technologies of the future.

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