Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Overview
The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was founded in 2012 by Yuri Milner to recognize those individuals who have made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all physicists – theoretical, mathematical, experimental – working on the deepest mysteries of the Universe.One Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is given each year. The winner receives $3 million. The prize can be split between two or more scientists.
Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Award Winners List (2012-2025)
| Images | Year | Winner Name | Affiliation | |
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2025 | ALICE Collaboration Team | N/A | |
For detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties confirming the symmetry-breaking mechanism of mass generation, the discovery of new strongly interacting particles, the study of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. |
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2025 | ATLAS Collaboration Team | N/A | |
For detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties confirming the symmetry-breaking mechanism of mass generation, the discovery of new strongly interacting particles, the study of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. |
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2025 | CMS Collaboration Team | N/A | |
For detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties confirming the symmetry-breaking mechanism of mass generation, the discovery of new strongly interacting particles, the study of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. |
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2025 | LHCb Collaboration Team | N/A | |
For detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties confirming the symmetry-breaking mechanism of mass generation, the discovery of new strongly interacting particles, the study of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. |
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2024 | John Cardy | University of Oxford, All Souls College | |
For profound contributions to statistical physics and quantum field theory, with diverse and far-reaching applications in different branches of physics and mathematics. |
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2024 | Alexander Zamolodchikov | Stony Brook University | |
For profound contributions to statistical physics and quantum field theory, with diverse and far-reaching applications in different branches of physics and mathematics. |
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2023 | Charles H. Bennett | IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center | |
For foundational work in the field of quantum information. |
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2023 | Gilles Brassard | Université de Montréal | |
For foundational work in the field of quantum information. |
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2023 | David Deutsch | Oxford University | |
For foundational work in the field of quantum information. |
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2023 | Peter W. Shor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
For foundational work in the field of quantum information. |
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2022 | Hidetoshi Katori | University of Tokyo and RIKEN | |
For outstanding contributions to the invention and development of the optical lattice clock, which enables precision tests of the fundamental laws of nature. |
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2022 | Jun Ye | National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado | |
For outstanding contributions to the invention and development of the optical lattice clock, which enables precision tests of the fundamental laws of nature. |
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2021 | Eric Adelberger | University of Washington | |
For precision fundamental measurements that test our understanding of gravity, probe the nature of dark energy, and establish limits on couplings to dark matter. |
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2021 | Jens H. Gundlach | University of Washington | |
For precision fundamental measurements that test our understanding of gravity, probe the nature of dark energy, and establish limits on couplings to dark matter. |
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2021 | Blayne Heckel | University of Washington | |
For precision fundamental measurements that test our understanding of gravity, probe the nature of dark energy, and establish limits on couplings to dark matter. |
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2020 | Sheperd Doeleman, Founding Director | N/A | |
For the first image of a supermassive black hole, taken by means of an Earth-sized alliance of telescopes. |
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2019 | Charles Kane | University of Pennsylvania | |
For new ideas about topology and symmetry in physics, leading to the prediction of a new class of materials that conduct electricity only on their surface. |
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2019 | Eugene Mele | University of Pennsylvania | |
For new ideas about topology and symmetry in physics, leading to the prediction of a new class of materials that conduct electricity only on their surface. |
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2018 | David N. Spergel and the WMAP Science Team | Princeton University | |
For detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies. |
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2018 | Lyman Page, Jr. and the WMAP Science Team | Princeton University | |
For detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies. |
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2018 | Norman Jarosikand the WMAP Science Team | Princeton University | |
For detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies. |
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2018 | Gary Hinshawand the WMAP Science Team | University of British Columbia | |
For detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies. |
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2018 | Charles L. Bennettand the WMAP Science Team | Johns Hopkins University | |
For detailed maps of the early universe that greatly improved our knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded the formation of galaxies. |
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2017 | Cumrun Vafa | Harvard University | |
For transformative advances in quantum field theory, string theory, and quantum gravity. |
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2017 | Andrew Strominger | Harvard University | |
For transformative advances in quantum field theory, string theory, and quantum gravity. |
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2017 | Joseph Polchinski | University of California Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics | |
For transformative advances in quantum field theory, string theory, and quantum gravity. |
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2016 | Yoichiro Suzuki and the Super K Collaboration | Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, University of Tokyo | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Takaaki Kajita and the Super K Collaboration | Institute for Cosmic Ray Research and Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, University of Tokyo | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Arthur B. McDonald and the SNO Collaboration | Queen’s University | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Atsuto Suzuki and the KamLAND Collaboration | Iwate Prefectural University | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Koichiro Nishikawa and the K2K and T2K Collaboration | KEK: High Energy Accelerator Research Organization | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Yifang Wang and the Daya Bay Collaboration | Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2016 | Kam-Biu Luk and the Daya Bay Collaboration | University of California Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | |
For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the Standard Model of particle physics. |
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2015 | Brian P. Schmidt and the High-z Supernova Search Team | Australian National University | |
For the most unexpected discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, rather than slowing as had been long assumed. |
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2015 | Adam Riess and the High-z Supernova Search Team | Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute | |
For the most unexpected discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, rather than slowing as had been long assumed. |
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2015 | Saul Perlmutter and the Supernova Cosmology Project Team | University of California Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | |
For the most unexpected discovery that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, rather than slowing as had been long assumed. |
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2014 | John H. Schwarz | California Institute of Technology | |
For opening new perspectives on quantum gravity and the unification of forces. |
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2014 | Michael B. Green | University of Cambridge | |
For opening new perspectives on quantum gravity and the unification of forces. |
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2013 | Alexander Polyakov | Princeton University | |
For his many discoveries in field theory and string theory, including the conformal bootstrap, magnetic monopoles, instantons, confinement/deconfinement, the quantization of strings in noncritical dimensions, gauge/string duality, and many others. His ideas have dominated the scene in these fields during the past decades. |
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2012 | Edward Witten | Institute for Advanced Study | |
For contributions to physics spanning topics such as new applications of topology to physics, non-perturbative duality symmetries, models of particle physics derived from string theory, dark matter detection, and the twistor-string approach to particle scattering amplitudes, as well as numerous applications of quantum field theory to mathematics. |
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2012 | Ashoke Sen | Harish-Chandra Research Institute | |
For uncovering striking evidence of strong-weak duality in certain supersymmetric string theories and gauge theories, opening the path to the realization that all string theories are different limits of the same underlying theory. |
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2012 | Nathan Seiberg | Institute for Advanced Study | |
For major contributions to our understanding of quantum field theory and string theory. His exact analysis of supersymmetric quantum field theories led to new and deep insights about their dynamics, with fundamental applications in physics and mathematics. |
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2012 | Juan Maldacena | Institute for Advanced Study | |
For the gauge/gravity duality, relating gravitational physics in a spacetime and quantum field theory on the boundary of the spacetime. This correspondence demonstrates that black holes and quantum mechanics are compatible, resolving the black hole information paradox. It also provides a useful tool for the study of strongly coupled quantum systems, giving insights into a range of problems from high temperature nuclear matter to high temperature superconductors. |
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2012 | Andrei Linde | Stanford University | |
For the development of inflationary cosmology, including the theories of new inflation, eternal chaotic inflation, and the inflationary Multiverse, and for contributing to the development of vacuum stabilization mechanisms in string theory. |
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2012 | Maxim Kontsevich | Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques | |
For numerous contributions which have taken the fruitful interaction between modern theoretical physics and mathematics to new heights, including the development of homological mirror symmetry, and the study of wall-crossing phenomena. |
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2012 | Alexei Kitaev | California Institute of Technology | |
For the theoretical idea of implementing robust quantum memories and fault-tolerant quantum computation using topological quantum phases with anyons and unpaired Majorana modes. |
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2012 | Alan Guth | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
For the invention of inflationary cosmology, and for his contributions to the theory for the generation of cosmological density fluctuations arising from quantum fluctuations in the early universe, and for his ongoing work on the problem of defining probabilities in eternally inflating spacetimes. |
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2012 | Nima Arkani-Hamed | Institute for Advanced Study | |
For original approaches to outstanding problems in particle physics, including the proposal of large extra dimensions, new theories for the Higgs boson, novel realizations of supersymmetry, theories for dark matter, and the exploration of new mathematical structures in gauge theory scattering amplitudes. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Breakthrough Prize is a Science award. It is given to recognize excellence in Science field. This award holds importance because it highlights achievements and encourages individuals or organizations to perform better in their respective areas.
Breakthrough Prize is awarded for Outstanding contributions in life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics. This means the award is given to honor outstanding contributions and achievements in this area. It helps promote talent, dedication, and excellence among individuals or groups involved in this field.
The Breakthrough Prize is presented by Breakthrough Prize Organization. The Breakthrough Prize Organization organization or authority is responsible for selecting deserving candidates and maintaining the credibility of the award through a proper evaluation and selection process.
The Breakthrough Prize was first awarded in 2012. Since then, it has continued to recognize excellence and honor individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions in their respective fields over the years.
The most recent Breakthrough Prize was awarded in 05 April 2025. This shows that the award is still relevant and continues to appreciate and recognize achievements in modern times.
The current status of the Breakthrough Prize is Continue. This indicates whether the award is still active or has been discontinued, helping users understand its present significance and relevance.
The Breakthrough Prize is associated with International. This means the award is either given by this country or primarily recognized within it, making it an important part of its awards and honors system.
