The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three scientists for their groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics. John Clarke from the UK, Michel Devoret from France, and John Martinis from the US share the honor for discovering quantum mechanical tunneling in an electrical circuit — a finding that has paved the way for quantum computing and modern technology.
The Nobel Prize committee praised their achievement for showing how the mysterious world of quantum physics can be demonstrated in a system large enough to hold in one’s hand. Their research, first conducted in the 1980s at the University of California, Berkeley, showed that quantum effects are not limited to tiny particles but can also be observed in larger, visible systems.
Quantum tunneling, the process that allows a particle to pass through a barrier instead of bouncing back, was long believed to exist only at the atomic level. However, the trio proved it can occur in macroscopic systems, bridging the gap between quantum theory and the physical world. Their experiments created superconducting electrical systems capable of shifting between states, much like a tennis ball passing straight through a wall.
Experts say this work forms the foundation of superconducting qubits — the key components of quantum computers. “This year’s Nobel Prize recognizes the pioneers who showed that even an electrical circuit can act as a genuine quantum system,” said Malcolm Connolly of Imperial College London.
The discovery highlights how deeply quantum mechanics influences everyday technologies, from mobile phones to fiber optic cables. Ulf Danielsson, a member of the Nobel Committee for Physics, noted that while 2025 marks the centenary of quantum science, the timing of the award was a coincidence.
The prize includes 11 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to about $1 million. With their discovery, Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis have expanded our understanding of how quantum laws operate not only in theory but in the world we can see and touch.
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