The $3 million wobble: How UW physicists won the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

From CERN in the ‘60s, to Brookhaven National Laboratory in the ‘90s, and now at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Illinois, it took a village to find the Muon g-2. The complex, experimental measurement of this subatomic particle’s magnetism has the potential to completely reshape our understanding of the universe.  Last month, the physics community’s quest for absurd precision received recognition. The Muon g-2 experiment won the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, dubbed the “Oscars of Science.” The $3 million prize is split among 384 researchers across generations. Alongside a global legion of researchers, UW physics professor and CENPA Director David Hertzog and professor emeritus Peter Kammel played leading roles on the Muon g-2 team. 

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