Particle physics, astrophysics and 'invisibility cloak' tipped for physics Nobel

Dawn reported that the Nobel physics prize will be announced on Tuesday at 11:45 am in Stockholm, with commentators floating several research areas as possible winners. Particle physics, astrophysics and the so-called invisibility cloak, which bends light around an object, are among those named. The physics award follows Monday's medicine prize, which went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for optogenetics, a method that uses light to steer nerve activity.

Speculation centres on Britain's John B. Pendry, known for the invisibility cloak, and American David Smith, with metamaterials research also cited. Sveriges Radio science producer Camilla Widebeck told AFP the field has grown large and varied since its first breakthrough two decades ago. Other names raised include Federico Capasso, along with Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, Allan MacDonald and Rafi Bistritzer for twistronics, which involves twisting two graphene sheets against each other to produce superconductivity.

Clarivate, which ranks likely laureates by citation counts, highlighted Japan's Chihaya Adachi, Stephen R. Forrest and Mark E. Thompson for organic light-emitting diodes that deliver sharper screens while using less power. Its research analysis head David Pendlebury told AFP that some discoveries could sit under either chemistry or physics. Clarivate also flagged Nicola Spaldin and Qikun Xue, whose work is linked to more energy-efficient products.