Agostini, Krausz and L'Huillier Win 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics

The award is the second of the season after the Medicine Prize went to mRNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
The award is the second of the season after the Medicine Prize went to mRNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
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Agostini, Krausz and L'Huillier Win 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics

The award is the second of the season after the Medicine Prize went to mRNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
The award is the second of the season after the Medicine Prize went to mRNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Scientists Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Huillier won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics for "experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter", the award-giving body said on Tuesday. 

The prize, which was raised this year to 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1 million), is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. 

Physics is the second Nobel to be awarded this week after Hungarian scientist Katalin Kariko and US colleague Drew Weissman won the medicine prize for making mRNA molecule discoveries that paved the way for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Created in the will of dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace have been awarded since 1901 with a few interruptions, becoming the arguably highest honor for scientists everywhere. 

While the sometimes controversial award for peace can hog the limelight, the physics prize has likewise often taken center stage with winners such as Albert Einstein and awards for science that has fundamentally changed how we see the world. 

Last year, Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger won the prize for work on quantum entanglement, where two particles are linked regardless of the space between them, something that unsettled Einstein himself who once referred to it as "spooky action at a distance". 

Announced on consecutive weekdays in early October, the physics prize announcement will be followed by ones for chemistry, literature, peace and economics, the latter a later addition to the original line-up. 



Abu Dhabi Gears Up to Host International Jazz Day 2025 Celebrations

The event will include a variety of concerts and educational and cultural initiatives. Photo: WAM
The event will include a variety of concerts and educational and cultural initiatives. Photo: WAM
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Abu Dhabi Gears Up to Host International Jazz Day 2025 Celebrations

The event will include a variety of concerts and educational and cultural initiatives. Photo: WAM
The event will include a variety of concerts and educational and cultural initiatives. Photo: WAM

Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the 2025 edition of International Jazz Day, a global event celebrated annually on April 30 in over 190 countries around the world, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Abu Dhabi has been selected as the Global Host City for this special celebration, which is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), WAM said.

The event will include a variety of concerts and educational and cultural initiatives, aimed at highlighting the impact of jazz music as a tool for artistic expression and creative freedom.

"We are delighted to celebrate International Jazz Day in Abu Dhabi, a city that has been designated a 'City of Music' by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This year’s edition will focus on Abu Dhabi’s creativity and rich heritage, while showcasing jazz’s ability to connect communities and promote dialogue and peace across continents,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

She added: "As a 'City of Music', Abu Dhabi is preparing to be a vibrant hub for this global celebration. Hosting the event will spotlight the city’s commitment to cultural exchange, education, and diversity, and it will play a central role in preserving and spreading jazz music in the region."

DCT Abu Dhabi will organize a five-week series of jazz concerts and educational programs, including the International Jazz Day 2025 “All-Star” Global Concert, which will be broadcast internationally from Etihad Arena, said WAM.

"By hosting International Jazz Day for the first time in its history, Abu Dhabi is achieving a milestone that complements its selection as a UNESCO 'City of Music'. This event reaffirms our commitment to promoting cultural unity, peace, and mutual understanding, and it is an opportunity to celebrate talented and creative musicians,” WAM quoted Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak as saying.

He added that the concert, led by legendary pianist Herbie Hancock and Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, will feature a lineup of jazz, blues, classical, and hip-hop artists from around the world, including performers from the UAE, US, China, Morocco, India, and many other countries.

More artist names will be announced in the coming weeks.