The prestigious 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been jointly awarded to American scientists John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced their recognition in Stockholm on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, for their monumental discovery of “macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.”
Olle Eriksson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, expressed his enthusiasm for the ongoing revelations from quantum mechanics. He noted that it’s “wonderful to be able to celebrate the way that century-old quantum mechanics continually offers new surprises,” emphasizing its immense utility as the fundamental basis of all modern digital technology.
From the ubiquitous transistors found in computer microchips to emerging fields, quantum technology is deeply embedded in our lives. This year’s Physics Nobel recognizes breakthroughs that pave the way for a new generation of quantum innovations, including advanced quantum cryptography, powerful quantum computers, and highly sensitive quantum sensors, as detailed in the Nobel Prize committee’s official media release.
This follows last year’s Physics Nobel, which honored John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their “foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.”
The 2025 Nobel Prize announcements began earlier in the week, on Monday, October 7, with the Prize for Physiology or Medicine. This award was shared by three scientists – Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi – for their crucial identification of regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system’s vital security guards. Future announcements include the Chemistry winners on Wednesday, October 8, Literature and Peace Prize winners on October 9 and 10, respectively, and the Economic Sciences Prize on October 13.
Each Nobel Prize comes with a substantial cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately ₹1.03 crore, and will be formally presented during the award ceremony on December 10.
The Nobel Prize itself is a legacy of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, whose will stipulated that his estate should establish awards for those who, in the preceding year, “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” in various fields.