The biggest questions in science
In recent centuries we have learned so much about the worlds around and within us that it may sometimes seem that no nook is left unexplored. The truth is, though, that every new discovery leads us to ever deeper questions. Innovations In: The Biggest Questions in Science is a special report on the state of inquiry into these questions—the latest research on the nature of spacetime, the identity of dark matter, the origins of life, the source of consciousness, and more.
This special report from Nature and Scientific American is editorially independent. It is produced with third-party financial support. About this content.
Nature is pleased to acknowledge the financial support of The Kavli Prize in producing this Innovations In. The sponsor retains sole responsibility for the following message:
The Kavli Prize recognizes scientists for pioneering advances in our understanding of existence at its biggest, smallest, and most complex scales. Presented every two years in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, each of three international prizes consists of $1 million (U.S.). Laureates are chosen by committees whose members are recommended by six of the world’s most renowned science societies and academies: The Chinese Academy of Sciences, The French Academy of Sciences, The Max Planck Society (Germany), The National Academy of Sciences (US), The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and The Royal Society (UK). The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters oversees the Prize Committees and announces the winners.
First awarded in 2008, the Kavli Prizes have so far honored 40 scientists from eight countries − the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.
The Kavli Prize is a partnership between The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (U.S.), and The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. It is named after Fred Kavli, a Norwegian-born U.S. philanthropist and founder of The Kavli Foundation.
