Nobel Prize for Physics Bestowed Upon Scientists for 'Universe Expanding' Discovery
Three prominent researchers are the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Physics this year due to their discovery relating to the faster expansion of our universe.
The researchers are receiving the award for their observations on how our universe is expanding and how it is growing at an apparently dramatic rate.
The three researchers are Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess of the United States and Brian Schmidt of Australia. Professor Perlmutter of the University of California, Berkeley was awarded half of the 10m Swedish krona (£940,000) prize while Professor Schmidt of the Australian National University and Professor Riess of Johns Hopkins University's Space Telescope Science Institute shared the rest.
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The group's work began in 1988 and 1994. The first project was run by Professor Perlmutter, which was called the "Supernova Cosmology Project." Professor Schmidt and Professor Riess' research came from their project led by the "High-z Supernova Search Team."
Saul Perlmutter of the Nobel Committee stated that the American researchers of the three man group had shown how the universe was flying apart. Their work resulted in the creation of the dark energy theory, which is labeled as an inverse gravity that causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Up to three-quarters of the universe is said to be comprised of “dark energy.”
Professor Schmidt, 44, was the leader of the High-z Supernova Search Team that also included Professor Riess, 41. Schmidt recanted details of their amazing finds: "We ended up telling the world we have this crazy result -- the universe is speeding up. It seemed too crazy to be right and I think we were a little scared."
The Nobel committee noted that this discovery "came as a complete surprise, even to the laureates themselves."
During the Nobel committee ceremony, Professor Schmidt had this to say: "It feels like when my children were born. I feel weak at the knees, very excited and somewhat amazed by the situation. It's been a pretty exciting last half hour."
The Nobel prizes have been awarded to worthy recipients annually since 1901. The fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace are all covered by the Nobel award.
