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Published online 6 October 2009 | 461, 707 (2009) | doi:10.1038/461707a

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Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to light pioneers

Advances in fibre optics and digital imaging are rewarded.

Geoff Brumfiel

Two technologies that revolutionized science, computing and communication have secured their developers a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Charles Kao of the Chinese University of Hong Kong has won half the prize for his role in developing fibre-optic cables.

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  • Chinese people are very clever.

    • 07 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: haifeng zhang

  • Well reported indeed.

    Fibre optics and digital imaging have been instrumental in revolutionizing communication and computing. All three scientists/inventors, Charles Kao, Willard Boyle and George Smith deserve the Nobel Physics Prize, for human beings are the ultimate beneficiaries of their relentless and diligent life-long effort.
    (TanBoonTee)

    • 07 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: B T Tan

  • i hope developt fibre optics cable improve until maintain into trim atto, pico,& nano it's wiil be alot of applicatve.because on future we can'nt avoid from cyber era of course much need like fibre optics stuff.

    • 08 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: mochamad gede kurniawan

  • I wish the the Swedish Academy had also recognised the work of Narinder Singh Kapany who pioneered Fiber Optics and was a leading contributor(see http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v173/n4392/pdf/173039b0.pdf) and coined the words Fiber Optics in an article in Scientific American in 1960

    • 08 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: Shivanand Kanavi

  • It is nice that the pioneering work on applied physics could get recognition, though a bit late. Congratulations to the Winers

    • 08 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: Sankar P sanyal

  • It is nice that the work in applied physics, leading to the benefit of society could be recognized but a bit late. Congratulations all the trio.
    Sankar P Sanyal

    • 08 Oct, 2009
    • Posted by: Sankar P sanyal