Prize announcement
Announcement of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics to Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, presented by Professor Gunnar Öquist, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, on 6 October 2009.
Interview
Following the announcement, Professor Joseph Nordgren explained to senior editor Simon Frantz how the achievements sharing the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics have revolutionized the way in which information can be transmitted globally.
Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 14 laureates' work and discoveries range from quantum tunnelling to promoting democratic rights.
See them all presented here.
Explore prizes and laureates
Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.
