The 2023 Breakthrough Prize for fundamental physics has been awarded, with a total of $3 million to be divided among approximately 400 researchers from the Muon g-2 Collaboration. This announcement was made during a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles that featured notable attendees such as Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Hathaway.
David Hertzog, a physicist from the University of Washington, expressed excitement about the unexpected financial reward for participants who contributed to the long-running muon experiments at Fermilab in Illinois and Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. Each researcher is expected to receive around $7,500, a significant sum for students and early-career scientists.
The prize also acknowledges contributions from Europe’s CERN, dating back to 1959. Hertzog noted the surprise many will feel upon learning of their reward, especially those who were briefly involved in the project. The recognition aims to enhance public appreciation for scientific achievements, an initiative supported by tech investor Yuri Milner and his wife, Julia.