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Physicist William Morse Wins Breakthrough Prize for Muon Research

4/19/2026

Center

Morse Wins Physics Prize

William Morse, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and his team won the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for muon research.
The prize is shared among about 400 researchers and acknowledges decades of collaboration across CERN and Fermilab.
The ceremony in Santa Monica, California, featured celebrities and highlighted efforts to reconcile experimental results with the Standard Model.
Morse said questions remain and called for further calculations in the field.

Left

Scientists Receive Honors

Breakthrough Prizes honored Boston scientists Stuart Orkin and Lee Roberts for life sciences and physics.
Stuart Orkin was recognized for Casgevy, first gene-editing cure approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.
Lee Roberts was honored for muon research advancing particle physics.
Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire were awarded for Luxturna, a gene therapy for blindness, and urged vigilance against political attacks on science.

History

Historical Context

Established in 2012 by Yuri Milner, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics honors transformative contributions to physics, awarding $3 million to laureates. Since its inception, it has recognized over 400 researchers, including William Morse, for advancements in areas like muon research. This initiative reflects a historical commitment to scientific integrity and collaboration among institutions such as CERN and Fermilab.

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Morse Wins Physics Prize

William Morse, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and his team won the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for muon research.
The prize is shared among about 400 researchers and acknowledges decades of collaboration across CERN and Fermilab.
The ceremony in Santa Monica, California, featured celebrities and highlighted efforts to reconcile experimental results with the Standard Model.
Morse said questions remain and called for further calculations in the field.

1 / 3