3 scientists win Nobel Prize in Physics for black hole discoveries


Three scientists will share this year's Nobel Prize in Physics for discoveries about one of the most mysterious objects in our universe.
British scientist Roger Penrose was awarded one half of the prize for discovering how black holes back up Einstein's theory of relativity, the Nobel Committee announced Tuesday. German Reinhard Genzel and American Andrea Ghez meanwhile received the other half for finding a supermassive black hole was at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Penrose's work fed into Genzel and Ghez's, as he used math to prove black holes could actually exist based on the theory of relativity. He was a longtime collaborator with Stephen Hawking, with whom he worked to "merge Einstein's theory of relativity with quantum theory to suggest that space and time would begin with the Big Bang and end in black holes," CNN writes. Nobel prizes can't be awarded posthumously, but analyst David Pendlebury noted to CNN that Hawking's work was mentioned in both Penrose and Genzel and Ghez' work.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ghez is meanwhile the fourth woman to ever receive the Nobel prize in Physics, telling The Associated Press that "I hope I can inspire other young women into the field. It's a field that has so many pleasures. And if you're passionate about the science, there's so much that can be done."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Should you downsize for retirement? Here's what to consider.
The Explainer Moving to a smaller place may seem easier, but there are also some real benefits to staying put
-
What to do if you want to move but don't want to give up your low mortgage rate
the explainer 30-year mortgage rates are currently averaging 7% — and homeowners who secured rates closer to 3% during the pandemic are reluctant to sell their homes
-
Crossword: September 1, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
SpaceX breaks Starship losing streak in 10th test
speed read The Starship rocket's test flight was largely successful, deploying eight dummy satellites during its hour in space
-
Rabbits with 'horns' sighted across Colorado
speed read These creatures are infected with the 'mostly harmless' Shope papilloma virus
-
Lithium shows promise in Alzheimer's study
Speed Read Potential new treatments could use small amounts of the common metal
-
Scientists discover cause of massive sea star die-off
Speed Read A bacteria related to cholera has been found responsible for the deaths of more than 5 billion sea stars
-
'Thriving' ecosystem found 30,000 feet undersea
Speed Read Researchers discovered communities of creatures living in frigid, pitch-black waters under high pressure
-
New York plans first nuclear plant in 36 years
Speed Read The plant, to be constructed somewhere in upstate New York, will produce enough energy to power a million homes
-
Dehorning rhinos sharply cuts poaching, study finds
Speed Read The painless procedure may be an effective way to reduce the widespread poaching of rhinoceroses
-
Breakthrough gene-editing treatment saves baby
speed read KJ Muldoon was healed from a rare genetic condition