Three scientists whose groundbreaking research on quantum tunneling has laid the foundation for modern digital and quantum technologies have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics. John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis were recognized for work that once seemed abstract but now powers innovations in computing, cryptography, and communications.
Clarke, 83, conducted his research at the University of California, Berkeley; Devoret is based at Yale and UC Santa Barbara; and Martinis also worked at UC Santa Barbara. Reached by phone during the announcement in Stockholm, Clarke admitted he was stunned. “To put it mildly, it was the surprise of my life,” he said, adding that his fellow laureates’ contributions were “just overwhelming.”
He reflected on the broader impact of their discovery: “Our discovery in some ways is the basis of quantum computing. Exactly at this moment where this fits in is not entirely clear to me. One of the underlying reasons that cellphones work is because of all this work.”
The Nobel Committee said the trio’s research, dating back to the 1980s, continues to fuel advancements in quantum technology — from quantum computers and cryptography to highly sensitive sensors. “It is wonderful to be able to celebrate the way that century-old quantum mechanics continually offers new surprises. It is also enormously useful, as quantum mechanics is the foundation of all digital technology,” said Olle Eriksson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.
Quantum mechanics, a 100-year-old field, explores a subatomic world where particles behave in ways that defy classical logic — switches can be both on and off, and particles can tunnel through seemingly impenetrable barriers. The laureates’ work scaled these phenomena into forms that can be harnessed in real-world applications, making once-theoretical concepts the backbone of next-generation technology.
“What they did is take something we can’t see or touch and bring it to a scale we can build upon,” explained Richard Fitzgerald, editor-in-chief of Physics Today. Committee member Mark Pearce noted that, beyond quantum computing, their work also enables highly precise measurements through quantum sensors and new methods of secure communication through quantum cryptography.
This marks the 119th time the Physics Prize has been awarded. Last year, pioneers of artificial intelligence John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton received the honor for laying the groundwork for machine learning.
The Nobel season continues with the chemistry prize on Wednesday, literature on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics on October 13. Laureates will receive their awards at the December 10 ceremony, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Along with global recognition, the prize comes with 11 million Swedish kronor — nearly $1.2 million.